A Richardson number compares gravitational stratification with inertial or shear effects. Its precise form depends on the characteristic scales or local gradients being compared.
The Richardson number (\(Ri\)) is a dimensionless number used in fluid mechanics and meteorology to quantify the relative importance of buoyancy compared to mechanical stirring (or shear) in a flow. It is especially relevant in the study of stratified fluids, such as in atmospheric and oceanic flows.
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