Using particle imaging velocimetry (PIV), we investigate the effects of fix
ed spatial disorder in a Taylor-Couette system near the onset of Taylor-Vor
tex flow. We induce small spatially frozen variations in the local control
parameter of the system by varying the radius of the inner cylinder along t
he cylinder axis, y. For a smooth inner cylinder the bifurcation to Taylor
vortex rolls is instrumentally sharp. With a 12% variation in the local Rey
nolds number Re(y) we find localized rolls with an amplitude that varies ex
ponentially in the spatially averaged Re. Smoothed bifurcations and localiz
ed flows have been seen in recent numerical studies of systems with spatial
ly varying control parameters and in convection of a fluid in a porous medi
um. The secondary transition to wavy how is significantly elevated in the s
ystem with spatially varying Re(y).