In order to guarantee the performances of complex systems, the CEA is driving large numerical simulations in various fields such as thermomechanics, electromagnetism and aerodynamics. Due to the size of the problems and the use of High Performance Computing approaches, large and complex datasets need to be explored to understand the physical phenomena. This paper focuses on the exploration of a compressible turbulent 2D flow, to better understand the flight behavior of an object. Topological data analysis (TDA) is used to improve understanding and avoid costly traditional methods such as 3D modal decomposition algorithms or highly technical hydrody-namic stability codes. The attention is put on the large eddies shed behind a cylinder hit by a crossflow. Thanks to TDA the tracking of the eddies, the identification of their origin and the evolution of their amplitude with the downstream distance are facilitated.