Inspiring Science Lectures Series - Blowing in the wind: the mathematics of dispersion

Abstract

The dangers of environmental pollution, particularly through the accidental release of toxic chemicals in the atmosphere or the ocean, highlight the importance of dispersion in fluid flows.

Fundamentally, dispersion results from the interplay between large-scale transport by the flow, and small-scale mixing by turbulent or molecular motion.

This lecture will discuss simple mathematical models of dispersion that shed light on the subtle nature of this interplay. It will specifically address the problem of urban dispersion, and the geometric constraints this introduces, by examining an idealised model of pollution release in a grid-plan city such as Manhattan.

Biography

Professor Jacques Vanneste is a David Rees Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the University of Exeter and Professor in Fluid Dynamics in the School of Mathematics of the University of Edinburgh and Head of its Applied and Computational Mathematics group.

Further information can be found on Professor Vanneste's personal website.

Refreshments

Refreshments will be served in the Harrison foyer after the lecture.

Inspiring Science Lecture Series

Inspiring Science is an open lecture series in which high-profile speakers from inside and outside of the University speak about their research and careers in their respective scientific fields. The series includes the Inaugural Lectures and Athena SWAN lectures, and is open for all to attend.

Registration

Registration is not required for this event, however if you have any questions please contact: research-events@exeter.ac.uk