Turbulence
What is turbulence?
In terms of meteorology, turbulence is the "irregular motion of the atmosphere, as that indicated by gusts and lulls in the wind". A more general definition is "the quality or state of being turbulent; violent disorder or commotion".

Turbulence has to do with the way the atmosphere moves and the way the currents flow in the oceans. One of the big questions studying turbulence tries to answer is why do things spread out, or propogate, the way they do?

Studying turbulent motion has applications that touch many differents parts of the world. An example of this is the spread of pollution. Studying the affect of turbulence of the atmosphere on the effect of pollution distribution allows scientists (Prof. Newman) to determine what areas are more affected by pollution and answer why. Knowing the answer to this question may help to divert pollution distribuion from highly condensed areas to somewhere else. The way pollution affects the ozone layer is something realted to the study of turbulence. Biologists determined what causes the depletion of the ozone layers decades ago, but what causes the pollution to stay in that area? Why is the pollution so persistent in these particular areas of the ozone layer and why can't it repair itself? These are questions Prof. Newman seeks to answer with his research in turbulence.


  Introduction    Why Physics?            Teaching            Research Topics

Nuclear Fusion            Turbulence            Power Transmission Systems            Human Behavior     
  Introduction    Why Physics?            Teaching            Research Topics

Nuclear Fusion         Power Transmission Systems            Human Behavior