The Dynamics of Rotating Fluids

by P. A. Davidson

Overview

This textbook on rotating fluid dynamics combines a pedagogical development of theoretical ideas with a description and analysis of many of the fascinating examples of rotating flows found in nature. The book is self-contained, starting in Part I with introductory chapters on fluid dynamics and waves. The largest section of the book is Part II, where a broad theoretical framework is developed for rotating flows, including Ekman layers, inertial waves, Taylor columns, Rossby waves, precession, instabilities, rotating convection, vortex breakdown, and rotating turbulence. The book ends, in Part III, with an analysis of some naturally occurring rotating flows, including tornadoes and dust devils, tidal vortices, tropical cyclones, convection in planetary cores, zonal winds in planetary atmospheres, and astrophysical accretion discs. Davidson presents a unique combination of a deep but broad theoretical framework with a detailed discussion of many naturally occurring flows. Moreover, the book places great emphasis on the pedagogical development of theoretical ideas and the physical insight that brings.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198886303
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	06/28/2024
Pages:	528
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

P. A. Davidson, Professor of Fluid Mechanics, University of Cambridge

Professor Peter Davidson is a Professor of Fluid Mechanics at the University of Cambridge. He has worked as a research engineer in industry in both the UK and USA, and has authored over 100 publications in the fields of magnetohydrodynamics and turbulence.

Table of Contents

PART I AN INTRODUCTION TO FLUID DYNAMICS AND WAVES1. A Qualitative Introduction to Rotating Fluids2. A Crash Course on Incompressible Fluid Dynamics3. Waves and Waves in FluidsPART II THE THEORY OF ROTATING FLUIDS4. Moving into a Rotating Frame of Reference, the Taylor-Proudman Theorem, and the Formation of Taylor Columns5. Ekman Boundary Layers6. Inertial Waves I7. Inertial Waves II8. Rossby Waves9. Rotating, Shallow-Water Flow10. Precession11. Instability I12. Instability II13. Vortex Breakdown14. A Glimpse at Rapidly Rotating TurbulencePART III ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES OF ROTATING FLOWS IN NATURE15. Tornadoes, Dust Devils, and Tidal Vortices16. Tropical Cyclones17. Convective Motion in the Earth’s Core and the Geodynamo18. Zonal (East-West) Winds and Rossby-Wave Turbulence19. Accretion Discs in AstrophysicsVector Identities and TheoremsNavier-Stokes Equation in Cylindrical Polar CoordinatesGeophysical DataThe Physical Properties of Common FluidsIndex