Project abstract:
A common thread found between volcanic plumes, wind farms, urban canopies and forests is their interaction with the atmospheric boundary layer. These flows possess a wide range of time and length scales with embedded non-linearities which give rise to the turbulence phenomena. In pursuit of understanding, it is beneficial to recreate the problem in a control environment such as a wind tunnel. Via laser-based non-intrusive techniques, quantitative observations are made on the physical/transport processes primarily driven by the equations of motion. In other instances, numerical simulations are required to represent the problem. Data analytics are continually employed to extract relevant information as to elucidate the flow physics. The work has direct consequences on efficiency increase in wind energy, prediction of ash dispersion from an eruption, building efficiency to name a few. Participants are provided with numerous options for possibilities of topics.