Taylor's Stability Number

Taylor’s Stability Number is a dimensionless quantity used in fluid dynamics, particularly in the study of atmospheric and oceanic flows, to predict the likelihood of certain vertical or horizontal flow patterns remaining stable or becoming unstable. It compares the effects of shear flow (variations in flow speed) to the restoring effects of stratification (layering due to density differences). A low Taylor’s Stability Number indicates stable conditions where layering persists, while a high value suggests a tendency toward instability and mixing. It helps scientists understand whether flows will maintain steady, layered structures or transition into turbulent, mixed states.