Ripples in Calm water . Can they be explained ?

[Mike Smith Cosmos]

.

In the last week or two , I have researched small water disturbances many times , under the influence of wind. This by careful observation, so as to form an explanation for some particular waves on water surfaces.

Whether this provides any useful ground work on other wave matters remains to be seen ! But there is a hint of something , reasonably profound !

The area of water ruffled by the wind , appears to be ONE entity .like one Violin string , or one other vibrating entity.

So , if this is so, ? the area on the surface only works by dint of the breeze or wind having sufficient energy to start and maintain the " WHOLE " area , patch . Like a whole string or whole ' gong ' . This then presents a threshold , before which the patch will not start a wave pattern off , until sufficient minimum energy is present . Even then it appears to be , the lowest possible frequency/ energy required. When more energy is present , a possible harmonic of double the frequency is generated in the water or just chaotic waves( yet to identify which ) . This existing more in the centre of the patch.

 

See the pictures below:-

 

 

Here the start is the Energy in the Breeze.

 

Can this be of use in understanding many different Sciences ?:

 

I spoke to a colleague yesterday who has spent his career on inland water areas investigating pollution by factories . He listened to my interest in wind turbulence on canal waters .

 

His comments were that , I should look at " Turbulance flow and Laminar flow and the Reynolds number " .

Having started to look at this area I can see that although this is normally applied to movement of streams , rivers and water in pipes , this could have a bearing on very gentle Turbulance or restrained Laminar flow , in the issue I am looking at on the surface of Canal water . Could this be so ? Could it be that this Reynolds number represents the difference in states between the flat water existing in ' laminar ' mode and the wave water existing in 'turbulent' mode . This then representing this quantum style change that I have previously been describing as necessary to go from ' flat to wave like ' .? Hence the line like edge to the patches of roughness ?

 

Here is an illustration of moving from " Laminar flow ( parallel surfaces sliding over one another ) to Turblent flow ( things going up and down at 90 degrees or angularly , offset , against the parallel flow ) . *

 

* whether ' Turblent can be applied to offset / angular movement of a sinusoid variety , under the definition of "turbulent " I am not sure ?

 

The picture is purely illustrative . It is taken from an image of smoke breaking from laminar to turbulent flow .

 

The water version that I am discussing , has clearly been disturbed from the laminar flow to a more complex state ( a wave ) . Thus , I wonder, if " turbulent " is not just a human definition ? Where a lower energy state ( parallel flow ) goes to the next suitable energy state ( either wave or complete random movement ) namely turbulent .

 

See this reference discussing Turbulance and waves

 

Under the reference 'Turbulence' in Wikipedia :- https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave_turbulence

 

Notice quote from opening paragraph :-

 

" Examples are waves on a fluid surface excited by winds or ships,"

 

Mike

 

Edited May 13, 2016 by Mike Smith Cosmos

[ajb]

The theory of water waves is quite advanced and there is a well accepted model here, but it is highly non-linear. This then leads to many mathematical and computational challanges. This is related to big open mathematical problems in the theory of fluid dynamics and so on.

 

This is not really my area, so I am not really sure what has been done. You could see if you can get hold of R. S. Johnson 'A Modern Introduction to the Mathematical Theory of Water Waves'.

[Mike Smith Cosmos]

The theory of water waves is quite advanced and there is a well accepted model here, but it is highly non-linear. This then leads to many mathematical and computational challanges. This is related to big open mathematical problems in the theory of fluid dynamics and so on.This is not really my area, so I am not really sure what has been done. You could see if you can get hold of R. S. Johnson 'A Modern Introduction to the Mathematical Theory of Water Waves'.

.

 

I will need to get my local library , on to that one . Looks like a fair , heavy , tome .

 

Fishermen landing difficult haul of fish

 

Mike

Edited May 15, 2016 by Mike Smith Cosmos