[Intro]
Oh, no
To know
The flow
Of course
The course of force
[Verse 1]
Plowing through you
A wave misbehaves
Not much you can do
(No, nothing saves)
[Bridge]
Density times the square of velocity
(The new reality)
[Chorus]
Oh, no
To know
The flow
Of course
The course of force
[Verse 2]
The severity of the density
Increase the intensity
It hits me
(No where to go but with the flow)
[Bridge]
Density times the square of velocity
(The new reality)
[Chorus]
Oh, no
To know
The flow
Of course
The course of force
[Bridge]
Density times the square of velocity
(Aware the square is there?)
[Chorus]
Oh, no
To know
The flow
Of course
The course of force
[Outro]
Density times the square of velocity
(The new reality)
A SCIENCE NOTE
What turns severe rain weather events into ‘violent rain events’ is the application of the drag equation and flow dynamics.
Mass and velocity are just part of the equation; density also plays a key role. The combination of these variables increases the intensity of flow forces. Wind and water forces scale with the square of velocity, meaning that as flow speeds increase — due to more intense heating or heavier rainfall — the damage scales accordingly. According to drag physics, force is proportional to density times the square of velocity.
For example, a 20-mile-an-hour wind exerts four times the force of a 10-mile-an-hour wind, while a 40-mile-an-hour wind exerts 16 times the force of a 10-mile-an-hour wind. At 50 miles an hour, the force is 25 times greater, and at 60 miles an hour, it’s 36 times greater than at 10 miles an hour. Now, add the density factor: water is about 800 times denser than air, so a 10-mile-an-hour water flow exerts 800 times the force of a 10-mile-an-hour wind.
As flow velocities increase due to climate change, the forces — and thus the damage — scale with the square of the velocities. While we may not know precisely how much velocities will rise with climate change, we’re already seeing the effects: overwhelmed flood and sewage systems, collapsing hillsides, and more.
ALSO SEE:
The Reign of Violent Rain / Brouse and Mukherjee (2023-2024)
Violent Raindrops: Raindrops Are Increasing in Size / Brouse and Mukherjee (2024)