An international group of physicists has developed a hybrid mathematical model capable of more accurately predicting the dynamics of air currents. The discovery promises to improve weather forecasts and increase aircraft stability against turbulence, which is especially important amid climate change.
Physicists have proposed a new mathematical model of turbulence that could significantly improve the safety and comfort of air travel. The work by scientists Björn Birnir from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Luisa Angelutsa-Bauer from the University of Oslo was published in the journal Physical Review Research.
Turbulence remains a major source of fear and discomfort for passengers, and its unpredictability has long been considered one of the “unsolved problems of classical physics.” Clear-air turbulence, which is not detected by standard onboard radars, is particularly dangerous.
The authors of the study combined two classical approaches to fluid dynamics—Lagrangian and Eulerian—to create a hybrid model that more accurately describes the dynamics of chaotic air masses. According to Professor J. Doyne Farmer of the University of Oxford, the new work paves the way for “understanding the mad dance of the vortices.”
The practical application of the model could result in the creation of accurate weather forecasts, algorithms for onboard systems, and engineering solutions that increase aircraft resistance to chaotic air flows. This would allow pilots to receive detailed data on the strength and location of turbulence along the route and make more informed decisions during flight.
Experts note that amid climate change and the increasing intensity of turbulence, the new discovery is of particular importance for global aviation.
