A theoretical model for horizontal convection at high Rayleigh number
Date
2007
Authors
Hughes, Graham
Griffiths, Ross
Mullarney, J
Peterson, William H
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Abstract
We present a simple flow model and solution to describe 'horizontal convection' driven by a gradient of temperature or heat flux along one horizontal boundary of a rectangular box. Following laboratory observations of the steady-state convection, the model is based on a localized vertical turbulent plume from a line or point source that is located anywhere within the area of the box and that maintains a stably stratified interior. In contrast to the 'filling box' process, the convective circulation involves vertical diffusion in the interior and a stabilizing buoyancy flux distributed over the horizontal boundary. The stabilizing flux forces the density distribution to reach a steady state. The model predictions compare well with previous laboratory data and numerical solutions. In the case of a point source for the plume (the case which best mimics the localized sinking in the large-scale ocean overturning) the thermal boundary layer is much thicker than that given by the two-dimensional boundary layer scaling of H. T. Rossby (Tellus, vol. 50, 1965, p. 242).
Description
Keywords
Keywords: Boundary layers; Buoyancy; Diffusion; Heat flux; Mathematical models; Numerical methods; Thermal gradients; Turbulence; Convective circulation; Horizontal convection; Rayleigh number; Heat convection; Boundary layers; Buoyancy; Diffusion; Heat convection;
Citation
Collections
Source
Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Type
Journal article
Book Title
Entity type
Access Statement
License Rights
Restricted until
2037-12-31
Downloads
File
Description