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The color of the thermochromic liquid crystals can be calibrated to provide a very accurate measurement of the local temperature. In turn, temperature vs. density curves for water are well known (or can be measured). It's, therefore, possible to extract the local fluid density directly from these images.
Recall the original image where Kelvin-Helholtz rolls were starting to appear. Mapping the three components of the color, (Red, Green, Blue), into a single scalar temperature field and, hence, density field results in the above image (black represents denser fluid, white lighter fluid). A density contour can be overlayed upon the original image to highlight the repeating roll-up associated with the instability.
geophysics