By: Bea Nash and Bethany Cates
1 Introduction
For our Dig Deeper Project, Bea and I wanted to build on our work from Project 3, where we examined the general flow dynamics created by the interaction of fluids of different air masses. In Project 3, we modeled the Hadley circulation as a two-layer system, but we didn't really think about how the boundary affected the fluid flow. Of course, fronts are really important for weather systems - most everyday weather phenomena occur at frontal boundaries. In this experiment, we investigated the frontal boundary more closely.
(TODO insert images of fronts in the wild)
2 Tank Procedure
3 Background theory: Thermal Wind
4 Lab results
In order to collect data from our experiment, we tracked using video processing software buoyant particles at the surface of the fluid, as well as particles with density in between that of the two fluids which sat on the frontal boundary. The shape of the front, although relatively stable, did vary slightly throughout the course of the experiment, as can be seen from the following images. The time stamp shown is relative to the time at which the can was removed, allowing the two fluids to meet.
Initially, the shape of the front resembles a Gaussian, with a wide sloping surface and flat top. As the experiment progressed, the front gradually became smaller in size and its sides flattened, leaving a sharp peak in the center.