Most of the world’s population lives in urban environments – cities and towns of significant size. The density of human habitation makes understanding the environment itself an important issue. Our interest is on the air flow within these environments, ranging from the street canyon processes to larger scale interactions of the urban boundary layer and the roughness layer. Critical issues include understanding the physics behind turbulent mixing and pollution dispersion within the street canyons and the removal of heat. Urban heat islands are a major issue in many large cities worldwide. Our current scientific focus is on street level processes and how these are represented within larger scale models. Key questions include how stable or unstable density stratification can be effectively modelled using Large Eddy Simulations.
Applications for our PhD program are welcome. Projects currently advertised: #3427. Funded opportunities are periodically available. Contact: Assoc. Prof. N Williamson