Environmental fluid mechanics: some fundamental problems and their practical relevance

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Almost all water bodies exhibit vertical density stratification. This stratification inhibits the vertical movement of heat, oxygen, nutrients and pollutants, and is thus of considerable environmental and economic importance. The applicant's research is primarily directed to understanding processes that overcome density stratification and facilitate vertical motion. The two main research areas are: A. Hydrodynamic Stability and Mixing B. The Physical Limnology of Mine Pit Lakes While the first research area is primarily motivated by a fundamental desire to better understand the behaviour of stratified flows, it has many practical applications. Conversely, while the second research area has been motivated by approaches from mining companies, consultants and government agencies to address specific concerns, it raises many fundamental questions that have not been resolved. The short-term objective of the proposed research is to gain a better understanding of these problems through a combination of analysis, laboratory and numerical experimentation, and field observation. The long-term objective is effective numerical modeling of challenging real-world problems. The applicant also proposes two studies involving: C. Free Surface Flows The first is an investigation of wave-current interactions, which has important applications in hydraulic engineering, but has evolved from a study of the physics of black holes. The second is an investigation of the potential of tidal power as a source of renewable energy.