2008 Annual Report Vol.36 - 中研院物理研究所 - Academia Sinica

Complexity Research Group
Complex systems are systems consisting of many simple elements which interact with
each other nonlinearly. In general, the most interesting aspect of complex systems is
the cooperative behavior among the elements mediated by their nonlinear interaction.
Such cooperative behavior is manifested in the spatial and/or temporal patterns, which
give the systems a variety of structures. In our institute, there are ten faculty members
and over ten postdocs and several graduate students working in different areas of
complexity and non-linear science. Our studies of nonlinear and complex systems
consist of the following directions.
I. Hydrodynamics and Atmospheric Environment Physics
Dispersion of emitted airborne pollutants in urban environment is mainly affected by
the buildings density and wind attack angles on the buildings. Due to the complexity
of the buildings arrangements in the urban region, it is difficult to predict precisely the
dispersion of pollutant by the numerical model. Field study can achieve the goal in a
more precision status. But works of the field investigation cost much. Wind tunnel
experimental simulation is therefore a feasible alternative. Experiments of wind
tunnel study on the dispersion of pollution in urban environment of cubic building
array in-line configuration for different wind attack angles were conducted in
cooperation with the Environmental Wind Tunnel Laboratory of National Taiwan
Ocean University (NTOU) (Bao-Shi Shiau).
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