Jerzy Berlinski

Karman vortex street parametrization with image processing application

The karman vortex street phenomenon is applied in the vortex flowmeter. Application of various methods of investigations is necessary in the course of getting increased knowledge of the phenomenon. Flow visualization being the leading method of aero- and hydrodynamic phenomena investigations enables qualitative evaluation in micro-scale. Due to the image processing application in analysis of flow visualization pictures, calculation of geometrical parameters of the Karman vortex street is feasible. So, the quantitative information is obtained. The worked out methodology of investigations as well as designed software for analysis of vortex street pictures are described in the paper. The results of the carried out laboratory tests are reported. Flow visualization has been carried out on the especially designed laboratory tests are reported. Flow visualization has been carried out on the especially designed laboratory stand. The visualized flow has been recorded on the magnetic tape and then processed into set of consecutive frames. Four groups of frames of similar vortex development phases have been put on the image processing procedure. Distances between adjoining vortices have been calculated. On the basis of obtained results it can be stated, that in spite of probabilistic nature of the investigated phenomenon strengthened by the applied research method (flow visualization), the proposed method enables quantitative determination of Karman vortex street parameters.

First Measurements of the Earth’s Electric Field at the Arctowski Antarctic Station, King George Island, by the New Polish Atmospheric Electricity Observation Network

Atmospheric electricity measurements are performed all over the globe for getting a better understanding of the processes and phenomena operating in the Earth’s electric atmosphere, ionosphere and magnetosphere. Over recent years, we have established coordinated observations of atmospheric electricity, mainly of the vertical component of the Earth’s atmospheric electric field, from Polish observation stations: Stanisław Kalinowski Geophysical Observatory in Świder, Poland, Stanisław Siedlecki Polar Station in Hornsund, Svalbard, Norway, and, for the first time, the Henryk Arctowski Antarctic Station in King George Island. The organisation of this network is presented here as well as a preliminary summary of geophysical conditions at Arctowski, important from the point of view of atmospheric electricity observations. In particular, we refer to the geomagnetic observations made at Arctowski station in 1978–1995. We also present the average fair-weather diurnal variation of the atmospheric electric field based on observations made so far between 2013 and 2015.