Random Thoughts Part 5: Time to Split Again

[OCR]

I don't understand why anyone would kill them or any other animal for no reason.

I never could understand that either, such a shame......

 

[Sirsh]

Is it right to assume that wind always acts in one direction for a long period of time? When I ride my bicycle I can feel the alternating direction of wind every 5-10 minutes or so.

 

[collinsmark]

Is it right to assume that wind always acts in one direction for a long period of time?

Surprisingly, no; it would be a less than ideal assumption. (On small scales that is)

Wind on the surface of the Earth has a large amount of localized behavior. Don't forget that with most any system of airflow on scales less than around 100 km, it not only involves lateral direction, but also vertical directions at elevations higher than the surface itself: At elevations above ground sometimes the wind blows up and sometimes down!

And with that, the wind patterns form [3 dimensional] chaotic, pseudo-fractal type structures. The largest systems are the prevailing winds. Within the prevailing winds there substructures of high and low pressure centers that interact with each other to form even smaller structures with their own wind patterns. And within those smaller structures there are even smaller structures than that. [Edit: and the strength these different levels vary too, depending on other conditions, meaning some days there will be steady winds and other days nothing but gusts.]

The end result is, on a gusty day, that even though you might feel a strong breeze blowing, that breeze might not exist or might be in a completely different direction as little as a 100 meters away or so.

And these small patches are moving too. So they are not just localized in space, but they are themselves moving a little in space as time progresses.

When I ride my bicycle I can feel the alternating direction of wind every 5-10 minutes or so.

That doesn't surprise me, particularly since you are moving. You might be moving through one small, localized thermal and into another small system.

The concept is very important to sailing, and in particular sail-boat racing. In highly competitive sailboat racing it is not uncommon for a crew member to climb up the mast (even part way) to inspect the nearby areas of water. Patches of water that are less reflective (due to increased ripples) give an indication of where the wind is. Much of sailboat racing is a struggle to find those small patches of wind.

 

[Sirsh]

Surprisingly, no; it would be a less than ideal assumption. (On small scales that is)

Wind on the surface of the Earth has a large amount of localized behavior. Don't forget that with most any system of airflow on scales less than around 100 km, it not only involves lateral direction, but also vertical directions at elevations higher than the surface itself: At elevations above ground sometimes the wind blows up and sometimes down!

And with that, the wind patterns form [3 dimensional] chaotic, pseudo-fractal type structures. The largest systems are the prevailing winds. Within the prevailing winds there substructures of high and low pressure centers that interact with each other to form even smaller structures with their own wind patterns. And within those smaller structures there are even smaller structures than that. [Edit: and the strength these different levels vary too, depending on other conditions, meaning some days there will be steady winds and other days nothing but gusts.]

The end result is, on a gusty day, that even though you might feel a strong breeze blowing, that breeze might not exist or might be in a completely different direction as little as a 100 meters away or so.

And these small patches are moving too. So they are not just localized in space, but they are themselves moving a little in space as time progresses.
That doesn't surprise me, particularly since you are moving. You might be moving through one small, localized thermal and into another small system.

The concept is very important to sailing, and in particular sail-boat racing. In highly competitive sailboat racing it is not uncommon for a crew member to climb up the mast (even part way) to inspect the nearby areas of water. Patches of water that are less reflective (due to increased ripples) give an indication of where the wind is. Much of sailboat racing is a struggle to find those small patches of wind.

Very interesting, thank you for your knowledge on the subject.

Is this a large problem when it comes to wind turbine design?

 

[Evo]

Very interesting, thank you for your knowledge on the subject.

Is this a large problem when it comes to wind turbine design?

This is random thoughts, if you have an interest in the topic, I suggest that you start a thread in the proper forum to discuss it.

 

[Sirsh]

This is random thoughts, if you have an interest in the topic, I suggest that you start a thread in the proper forum to discuss it.

Apologizes, this was a random thought I had while I was reading and looking at how the trees go back and forth in the wind.

 

[rootone]

Apologizes, this was a random thought I had while I was reading and looking at how the trees go back and forth in the wind.

In a sudden wind gust the tree will lean in the direction the wind pushes it.
That represents potential energy in the tree has increased.
after the wind gust drops the tree releases that energy mostly in an attempt to get back to somewhere near it's original position.

 

[Evo]

Apologizes, this was a random thought I had while I was reading and looking at how the trees go back and forth in the wind.

That's ok, sometimes what starts as a random thought becomes an interesting thread.

 

[OmCheeto]

I saw an odd title for an article this morning; "Airstream trailer reconstructed as a tiny house"
As far as I can remember, Airstream trailers were tiny houses, to begin with.

 

[Sophia]

Spiders are nothing but ultimate evil! Sorry, but we can't be friends. I'm just kidding with you.

I like snakes and Amphibians. Amphibians are funny. Most are wet and gelatinous. I like to touch them.

This lady is awesome! Check it out: http://eugeniekitchen.com/rainbow-heart-cookies-eugenie/

Have you got any snakes or amphibians as pets? Some Cornsnake morphs have nice colours, eg. red, pink, purple or white with brown spots. They look really nice. But I would never touch them. :-)
Once I spent a few days googling about pet snakes because I was fascinated by the fact that some people have them so I wanted to learn more about it.

The rainbow hearts look cool! I really admire people who can create such things. It requires tons of patience and artistic talent which I totally lack :-)

Spiders are nothing but ultimate evil! Sorry, but we can't be friends. I'm just kidding with you.

I like snakes and Amphibians. Amphibians are funny. Most are wet and gelatinous. I like to touch them.

This lady is awesome! Check it out: http://eugeniekitchen.com/rainbow-heart-cookies-eugenie/

 

[Silicon Waffle]

I like you, no not you! the other one!

 

[Ibix]

I like you, no not you! the other one!

The UK National Lottery uses (used?) The tagline "It could be you!" There was a TV comedian who ended a show once by pointing about thirty degrees away from camera and saying "...and remember: it could be you!" then turning to point directly at the camera and adding "...no, not you, don't be silly!" Sums up my feelings about the whole thing quite nicely.

 

[Borg]

When you ask your significant other where they want to go out to eat and they say "I don't care", now you know where to go.

 

[Psinter]

Have you got any snakes or amphibians as pets? Some Cornsnake morphs have nice colours, eg. red, pink, purple or white with brown spots. They look really nice. But I would never touch them. :-)
Once I spent a few days googling about pet snakes because I was fascinated by the fact that some people have them so I wanted to learn more about it.

The rainbow hearts look cool! I really admire people who can create such things. It requires tons of patience and artistic talent which I totally lack :-)

Nope. Never had pets like that. But I live in what could be considerably called a forest and behind my house there are always snakes. I once saw a purple snake and my automatic thought was: "It's so beautiful." Never before had I said the word "beautiful" with so much heart in it. I really felt "beautiful" was what described it. When it went away I felt very sad. I was in a gentle begging voice: "No, don't go... Please don't..." I hoped I could see it again, but I never saw it.

On the other hand there used to be a lot of small frogs. I used to catch them and touch them as a kid. But something I don't know is going on. They are disappearing as the years go by. Globular warming perhaps? They were wet and gelatinous. Haha, funny to touch them.

I also used to catch this salamander-like creatures. They also felt wet and gelatinous. But I think they are lizards, not amphibians. Those are still alive, their numbers haven't decreased. If you turn the light of some room at night, insects come, then the salamander-like creatures come as well to eat the insects. They have some kind of transparency blended with their color and you can see when they have eggs inside.

 

[WWGD]

Wow, @Psinter , there is no way that anything I write after your post does not come off as completely trite.

 

[WWGD]

But anyway, it is Random Thoughts after all. My investment in heavy duty boots paid off, stepping on poodles of water with no consequence --and the boots were cheap, from a going out of business sale. And winter is always a good time to enjoy the soup places around.

 

[Psinter]

Wow, @Psinter , there is no way that anything I write after your post does not come off as completely trite.

To be honest I had to search for the definition of "trite".

 

[WWGD]

To be honest I had to search for the definition of "trite".

Don't worry, it is an unnecessarily complicated word; could have just used "trivial" instead.

 

[fresh_42]

Don't worry, it is an unnecessarily complicated word; could have just used "trivial" instead.

"Trivial" might cause allergic reactions to some of us. Would be interesting how many hours on average are spent on "trivial", "obvious", "clearly" or "as easily can be shown".

 

[Psinter]

"Trivial" might cause allergic reactions to some of us. Would be interesting how many hours on average are spent on "trivial", "obvious", "clearly" or "as easily can be shown".

You could say that again. Specially when programming:

"It was a trivial bug, yet it took me how many hours to fix?"

 

[WWGD]

You could say that again. Specially when programming:

"It was a trivial bug, yet it took me how many hours to fix?"

A bug? Not a transparent snake?

 

[Psinter]

A bug? Not a transparent snake?

I don't get it.
_______________
Telescopes everywhere!

That's great Google! Now, what are my financing options?

 

[WWGD]

I don't get it.
_______________
Telescopes everywhere!

That's great Google! Now, what are my financing options?

Just referring to your post on snakes, the "non-trite" one

 

[fresh_42]

Hell, THAT's what I call a starter kit!

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

That's great Google! Now, what are my financing options?

Can I find it on amazon or what!?

 

[WWGD]

Hell, THAT's what I call a starter kit!

Wonder if Elon Musk will put out something similar soon.

 

[Ibix]

I'd be slightly worried about the delivery options. "You weren't in when we tried to deliver, so we left your package in the crater where your house used to be."

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

I'd be slightly worried about the delivery options. "You weren't in when we tried to deliver, so we left your package in the crater where your house used to be."

Deliver person would likely throw it at the door too!

 

[fresh_42]

Deliver person would likely throw it at the door too!

Which would certainly be a good idea! I mean, to keep it in free fall ...

 

[Sophia]

Nope. Never had pets like that. But I live in what could be considerably called a forest and behind my house there are always snakes. I once saw a purple snake and my automatic thought was: "It's so beautiful." Never before had I said the word "beautiful" with so much heart in it. I really felt "beautiful" was what described it. When it went away I felt very sad. I was in a gentle begging voice: "No, don't go... Please don't..." I hoped I could see it again, but I never saw it.

On the other hand there used to be a lot of small frogs. I used to catch them and touch them as a kid. But something I don't know is going on. They are disappearing as the years go by. Globular warming perhaps? They were wet and gelatinous. Haha, funny to touch them.

I also used to catch this salamander-like creatures. They also felt wet and gelatinous. But I think they are lizards, not amphibians. Those are still alive, their numbers haven't decreased. If you turn the light of some room at night, insects come, then the salamander-like creatures come as well to eat the insects. They have some kind of transparency blended with their color and you can see when they have eggs inside.

Psinter, what a beautiful post! There's so much feeling in it. You have such a gift for observation.
You should write a book.