Topography Effects in Rotating Fluids: Experimental Insights

This lecture presents an experimental study on the effects of bottom topography in rapidly rotating fluids, specifically focusing on the spin-up of a fluid in a straight cylinder. The instructor introduces the geophysical context, highlighting the differences between results in oceanography and atmospheric sciences compared to deep fluid layers. The experimental setup involves a straight cylinder with chessboard-like topography at the bottom, serving as a proxy to investigate energy dissipation driven by topography. The lecture details the methodology, including the use of various topography wavelengths and the measurement of mean kinetic energy during the spin-up process. The results demonstrate how different topographies influence the spin-up time and energy dynamics within the fluid. The discussion also touches on the implications of these findings for understanding fluid dynamics in planetary and stellar contexts, emphasizing the relevance of topography in geophysical fluid dynamics. Overall, the lecture provides valuable insights into the complex interactions between fluid motion and topographical features.