The lateral diffusion of a cloud of falling droplets

Abstract

AbstractThis paper is an application of O. G. Sutton's theory of eddy diffusion to a case for which it was not originally developed; the theory is used to predict the dispersion of a cloud of falling droplets released from a point source at great height above the surface of the earth. Some experimental and theoretical values are given for the widths of ground area covered by liquid drops released from sources situated at heights between 1000 and 5000 ft., and agreement between theory and experiment is seen to be quite reasonable. This paper therefore provides further support for the use of O. G. Sutton's theory in problems of this type. The theory has practical applications, e.g. in the spraying of crops from aeroplanes.