Shear instabilities in density stratified flows act to mix fluids vertically. These instabilities are an important underlying process in many settings such as in lakes and estuaries. The Environmental Fluid Mechanics group has a long history of studying these small-scale processes, in the laboratory (photo below), using direct numerical simulations (DNS) and in the field.
Shear instabilities in a stratified flow, captured during a laboratory experiment conducted by Dr. Ted Tedford as part of his Ph.D. research (photo taken November 2024 in Contemporary Topics in Physical Limnology Class). The image depicts a section of the rectangular tank, where a two-layer exchange flow occurs with a density difference of 1.14 kg/m³. Dr. Tedford used Laser-Induced Fluorescence to visualize the density interface. Note the small wisp of fluid from the lower layer being mixed into the upper layer. (Photo T. Tedford).
