We have discovered a checkerboard pattern created by the intersection of attracting and repelling Lagrangian coherent structures (LCS) in several geophysical vortex flows. Such structures are formed by highly three-dimensional processes and include the interaction between hyperbolic stretching in two dimensions with shear in the third dimension. Here, we briefly discuss the appearance of this pattern in two geophysical flows and then further examine the LCS in a hurricane simulation. Additionally, we discuss the impact of the complicated LCS on navigation and control of micro-aerial vehicles (MAVs) in a hurricane and present a control strategy to allow MAVs to efficiently navigate to the hurricane eyewall despite their limited flight capabilities.
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