Summer study program in geophysical fluid dynamics
Subtitle: patterns in fluid flow
By: Bill Young [and others] edited by Steve Meacham.
Contributors: Young, Bill.; Meacham, Steve.; Study Program in Geophysical and Fluid Dynamics (1991 : Woods Hole)
Series: WHOI -- 92-16.; WHOI (Series) -- 92-16.
Publisher: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Published: 1991
Place of publication: Woods Hole, Mass
Language: eng
Number of pages: 336
Subjects: Geophysics -- Fluid models.; Fluid dynamics.
Other titles: 1991 summer study program in geophysical fluid dynamics.; Patterns in fluid flow.
Description: The GFD program in 1991 focused on pattern forming processes in physics and geophysics. The pricipallecturer, Stephan Fauve, discussed a variety of systems, including our old favorite, Rayleigh-Bnard convection, but passing on to exotic examples such as vertically vibrated granular layers. Fauve's lectures emphasize a unified theoretical viewpoint based on symmetry arguments. Patterns produced by instabilties can be described by amplitude equations, whose form can be deduced by symmetry arguments, rather than the asymptotic expansions that have been the staple of past Summer GFD Programs. The amplitude equations are far simpler than the complete equations of motion, and symetry arguments are easier than asymptotic expansions. Symmetry arguments also explain why diverse systems are often described by the same amplitude equation. Even for granular layers, where there is not a universaly accepted continuum description, the appropnate amplitude equation can often be found using symmetry arguments and then compared with experiment. Our second speaker, Daniel Rothan, surveyed the state of the art in lattice gas computations. His lectures illustrate the great utility of these methods in simulating the flow of complex multiphase fluids, particularly at low Reynolds numbers. The lattice gas simulations reveal a complicated phenomenology much of which awaits analytic exploration. The fellowship lectures cover broad ground and reflect the interests of the staff members associated with the program. They range from the formation of sand dunes, though the theory of lattice gases, and on to two dimensional-turbulence and convection on planetary scales. Readers desiring to quote from these report should seek the permission of the authors (a partial list of electronic mail addresses is included on page v). As in previous years, these reports are extensively reworked for publication or appear as chapters in doctoral theses. The task of assembling the volume in 1991 was at first faciltated by our newly acquired computers, only to be complicated by hurricane Bob which severed electric power to Walsh Cottage in the final hectic days of the summer.
Notes: "Funding was provided by the National Science Foundation through Grant no. OCE 8901012."

Cover title: "Geophysical fluid dynamics".

Also issued online.