How did Leonardo da Vinci study the movement of water and whirlpools?

Leonardo da Vinci studied the movement of water and whirlpools through systematic observation and experimentation, viewing water as the vetturale della natura ("conveyor of nature"). His research focused on both the physical properties of water and the laws governing its currents, which he frequently compared to the movement of air.12

To document these phenomena, Leonardo developed a unique method of graphic representation that relied on stylized patterns and diagrams rather than written descriptions. In his studies of whirlpools, he successfully broke down complex movements into their component parts—such as individual traces of water or eddies—while simultaneously maintaining a holistic view of the phenomenon. This approach allowed him to create both an analytic and a synthetic vision of fluid dynamics. These findings, along with his broader hydrological research, were compiled in his personal data collections, including the Leicester Codex.12