Quantum physicists explained earth’s oscillating weather patterns

[changoplatanero]

The explanation is that there seems to be a mathematical parallel between some wave equation used in quantum physics and the wave equation used in studying weather patterns.

[ripperoni]

While it is correct, this oversimplifies the point. The finding was that certain wheather patterns can be modelled better than before by using a quantum physics equation. To further the point: The model of this quantum physics equation is also useful for quantum computers built with superconducting materials.

Underlying is the question though, why does this equation apply to the earths wheather? There seem to be parallels in the quantum and "macro" model, like windings of electron and wheather currents. Maybe the right view to modeling the earth is about dynamics as much as it is about topoligical phenomenons. After all, topology is used for solving gravitational problems, too.

Then why can the earth can be treated as a topoligical insulator and what implications does this have? Can we learn something from it that can be applied to other wheather phenomenons? Or maybe even to the earths core?

[romusha]

When you put it that way, the "magic" disappears. Isn't this what category theory seeks? Relationship between distant/different mathematical structures? Whether this equation belongs to the same class with another even though they explain different physics?

[amelius]

Aren't quantum effects supposed to disappear in the macroscopic world? How is this explained?

[ElMocambo_x4]

Would a knowledgeable person be able to explain the following to a rookie: if the quantum physics equation describe a reality (or "phenomenons") which cannot be comprehended in the non-quantic reality (ie. classical physics), how can there be common patterns in both realities where equations from one realm would somehow still match patterns in the other realm ?

[gus_massa]

Very late reply. I hope you see it...

Some problems need all que quirks of quantum mechanics, but other can be simplified and you get a simplified equation.

For example the electrons moving inside a very pure and very cold conductor are weird but if you have a normal conductor at room temperature, you can use the usual equation V=I*R to calculate the current. The simplified equation V=I*R is not 100% exact, probably only 99.99999999999% so everyone use it.

The same equation can be used to calculate flux of water inside tubes, when the speed of the water is low. You must replace the voltage V with the pressure P, and other similar replacements. When the speed is high, you get more complicated equations, but in some cases the simplified equation is good enough.

The idea is that in some conditions, both system can be approximated with a simplified equation, in spite under the hood they are very different.

[jncfhnb]

Your premise doesn’t really make sense. But in general there is no reason that a pattern cannot apply to two unrelated systems.

[fractallyte]

That header animation in the article looks just like Jupiter! A gas giant with similarly swirly patterns.

[photochemsyn]

The El Nino pattern is not an oscillation... it is a fluctuation. Nobody has ever been able to predict the next El Nino based on the historical record. That's typical of fluctuations driven by non-linear phenomena. These are systems that display sensitive depenence to initial condition. Even a trivial research effort should have revealed this. Go read Edward Lorenz 1995 Essence of Chaos.

https://uwapress.uw.edu/book/9780295975146/the-essence-of-ch...

This is really embarrassingly ignorant and incorrect. Classic case of experts in one field having no idea of what's been going on in another field for decades and so making fools of themselves.

[gandalfgreybeer]

I’ve only taken introductory meteorology courses but I remember ENSO [1] (which uses the term oscillations). Maybe that’s what they’re referring to?

[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Niño–Southern_Oscillation

[stevenhuang]

But if the new theory is able to predict successful observations, then what was once fluctuations can now indeed be termed oscillations as the cause is characterized.

Being so hung up on the term is a bit strange considering that's precisely what the theory is setting forth to describe...

[kergonath]

That is par for the course for this specific publication. I wish heir articles did not appear as often here; most of the time they do not really deserve more than an eye roll.

[miika]

As above, so below?

[thumbuddy]

Oh man they are getting closer. Cool:)

[ars]

You want to ban what is probably the best layman-scientific publication on the internet?

Whatever for?