Local low dimensionality of atmospheric dynamics

Change in atmospheric pressure with height is particularly interesting. The decrease in atmospheric pressure with increasing altitude is due to the decreasing gravitational force per unit area as we move away from the surface of the earth.
Assuming the air temperature is constant at a given altitude and that the ideal gas law of thermodynamics describes the atmosphere to a good approximation, one can find the variation of atmospheric pressure with height.
Let p(y) be the atmospheric pressure at...

The concept of static, stagnation, dynamic, and total pressure is fundamental in fluid dynamics, often explained using Bernoulli's equation:

Dimensionless groups in fluid mechanics provide simplified ratios that help analyze fluid behavior without relying on specific units. The Reynolds number (Re), which represents the ratio of inertial to viscous forces, distinguishes between laminar and turbulent flows, making it essential in the design of pipelines and aerodynamic surfaces. The Froude number (Fr), the ratio of inertial to gravitational forces, is particularly useful in predicting wave formation and hydraulic jumps in...

When a fluid encounters a solid surface, a boundary layer forms due to the interaction between the fluid's motion and the stationary surface. This phenomenon is characterized by a thin region adjacent to the surface where viscous forces dominate, influencing the fluid's velocity profile. The development of the boundary layer begins at the leading edge of the surface and evolves as the fluid moves downstream.As the fluid flows over the surface, friction between the fluid and the wall slows down...

A drone flying through complex terrain often relies on more than one sensing method to estimate small changes in altitude. Along with direct measurements, air pressure provides a useful indirect indicator of vertical movement. Atmospheric pressure decreases as altitude increases, and this relationship is commonly described using an exponential model. Although accurate, converting pressure measurements into altitude values requires calculations that are too complex to perform repeatedly during...

For a differentiable function of two variables, linear approximation estimates values near a known point by replacing the curved surface with its tangent plane. Consider the function\begin{equation*}f(x,y)=x^2+3y^2\end{equation*}near the point (2, 1). The exact value at this point is f(2, 1) = 22 + 3(1)2 = 4 + 3 = 7.The linear approximation of f(x, y)) near (a, b) is\begin{equation*}L(x,y)=f(a,b)+f_x(a,b)(x-a)+f_y(a,b)(y-b)\end{equation*}First, compute the partial derivatives: fx(x, y) = 2x and...