Extraordinary Toroidal Vortices

What Do Dolphins and Whales Have in Common with an Atomic Bomb?

“What is a toroidal vortex?” you may ask. Well, here’s the Wikipedia definition:   A toroidal vortex, also called a vortex ring, is a region of rotating fluid moving through the same or different fluid where the flow pattern takes on a toroidal (doughnut) shape. The movement of the fluid is about the poloidal or circular axis of the doughnut, in a twisting vortex motion. Examples of this phenomenon are a smoke ring or a microburst. A vortex ring usually tends to move in a direction that is perpendicular to the plane of the ring and such that the inner edge of the ring moves faster forward than the outer edge. Within a stationary body of fluid, a vortex ring can travel for relatively long distance, carrying the spinning fluid with it.

With all that being said it’s more fun to watch them being created.

Check this out for dolphins and bombs in action!