Large-scale self-organization in dry turbulent atmospheres. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38422141/)

These scientists wanted to understand how the movement of air in the atmosphere of planets, like Earth, can create big patterns. They were curious about how small changes in the air can lead to bigger changes.

To figure this out, the scientists used powerful computers to simulate the movement of air in the atmosphere. They made detailed calculations and watched how the air moved and changed over time. They found that when the air was spinning and had different temperatures at different heights, it could create a special kind of pattern that made the air move in a specific way.

By studying these patterns, the scientists learned that in certain conditions, the air can naturally organize itself into larger patterns. This discovery helps us better understand how energy moves around in the atmosphere of planets, like Earth, and how these patterns can form on a big scale.

Alexakis A., Marino R., Mininni PD., van Kan A., Foldes R., Feraco F. Large-scale self-organization in dry turbulent atmospheres. Science. 2024 Mar;383(6686):1005-1009. doi: 10.1126/science.adg8269. Epub 2024 Feb 29.