Growth of Respiratory Droplets in Cold and Humid Air

Explore a critical discussion on respiratory droplet behavior in cold and humid environments through this 32-minute video from the Physical Review Journal Club. Delve into groundbreaking research presented by Chong Shen Ng from the University of Twente and Max Planck Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics. Discover how numerical simulations challenge previous assumptions about droplet evaporation, revealing a growth phase before shrinkage in cooler, humid conditions. Understand the implications of this phenomenon on airborne disease transmission, particularly relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn about the interaction between warm breath and cold air, creating a water-vapor-saturated plume that prolongs droplet survival. Gain insights from Ng's presentation and the subsequent Q&A session moderated by Emmanuel Villermaux from Aix-Marseille Université, enhancing your knowledge of fluid dynamics and its applications in public health.

Physical Review Journal Club: Growth of respiratory droplets in cold and humid air