The phenomenon of leaves blowing in circular patterns during strong gusts of wind is primarily due to the presence of air eddies and whirlwinds. When wind encounters obstacles such as trees or buildings, it creates eddies that trap leaves, causing them to spiral rather than move in a straight line. This occurs because the upward movement of air in the eddy is slower than the rate at which the leaves settle, resulting in a circular motion. Understanding this behavior is rooted in the principles of fluid dynamics and turbulence.
PREREQUISITESThis discussion is beneficial for environmental scientists, meteorologists, and anyone interested in understanding the effects of wind on natural phenomena and urban landscapes.
Because the wind doesn't.Josh0768 said:How come these leaves don’t move in a translational fashion?
You do not notice the few leaves that blow by with the wind. It is the ones that accumulate in the eddy that you focus on. When air enters an eddy behind an obstacle, or at the corner of a building, it may spiral upwards to escape from behind that obstacle. Leaves that enter the eddy may be trapped because the air in the eddy rises slower than the leaves settle.Josh0768 said:How come these leaves don’t move in a translational fashion?
On a perfectly flat Earth with no hills or smaller obstructions, you could imagine large regions in which the air flowed in a straight line. But absolutely anything can upset that. In the same way that your hand moving across the washing up bowl causes eddies in the suds on the top, trees, fences etc etc make the same thing happen.Josh0768 said:Summary:: Why does wind blow leaves in circles?
How come these leaves don’t move in a translational fashion?