Why (Still) Studying Turbulence in Fluids and Plasmas?

Abstract

Turbulence, a captivating and intricate phenomenon, continues to attract researchers across diverse scientific disciplines. Despite considerable efforts, turbulence remains a fascinating challenge and stands as one of the unsolved enigmas in classical physics. Researchers strive to unravel the underlying physical mechanisms and refine mathematical models to unlock a comprehensive understanding of this complex phenomenon. This paper delves into the reasons why the study of turbulence still persists for a long time, highlighting its history and fundamentals, wide‐ranging applications, significance in environmental and climate sciences, and outstanding open challenges. Through these endeavors, the quest for unraveling the mysteries of turbulence promises to yield profound scientific insights and practical applications in the years to come.The study of turbulence has a rich historical backdrop, marked by pioneering contributions from renowned scientists. From Leonardo da Vinci's observations of swirling water to Osborne Reynolds' early experiments, turbulence has fascinated scholars for centuries. Despite sustained efforts, turbulence remains an enigmatic challenge, defying complete understanding within classical physics. Turbulence finds its relevance in a wide array of applications as aircraft design, automotive engineering, oil pipelines, and power generation systems. In environmental and climate sciences, turbulence plays a pivotal role in the transport of heat and pollutants within the atmosphere and oceans. Understanding turbulent processes is essential for accurate weather forecasting, climate modeling, and assessing environmental impacts. This text briefly explores the enduring pursuit of turbulence study, shedding light on its historical foundations, fundamental aspects, diverse applications, and persisting unresolved questions. By delving into these aspects, this paper aims to highlight the ongoing quest for unraveling the mysteries of turbulence and the promising avenues it presents for scientific advancements and practical applications. Turbulence has captivated scholars for centuries, yet its complete understanding eludes classical physics Understanding turbulence is crucial for weather forecasting, climate modeling, and practical applications, paving the way for progress The relentless pursuit of turbulence understanding persists, offering exciting prospects for scientific progress and real‐world advancements in diverse fields