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Single-mode theory of diffusive layers in thermohaline convection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 April 2006

D. O. Gough  and
Juri Toomre
D. O. Gough
Affiliation:
Institute of Astronomy and Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, Silver Street, Cambridge CB3 9EW
Juri Toomre
Affiliation:
Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics, and Department of Astrophysical, Planetary and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309
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Abstract

A two-layer configuration of thermohaline convection is studied, with the principal aim of explaining the observed independence of the buoyancy-flux ratio on the stability parameter when the latter is large. Temperature is destabilizing and salinity is stabilizing, so diffusive interfaces separate the convecting layers. The convection is treated in the single-mode approximation, with a prescribed horizontal planform and wavenumber. Surveys of numerical solutions are presented for a selection of Rayleigh numbers R, stability parameters λ and horizontal wavenumbers a. The solutions yield a buoyancy flux ratio ζ that is insensitive to ζ, in accord with laboratory experiments. However ζ increases with increasing R, in contradiction to laboratory observations.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 125 , December 1982 , pp. 75 - 97
Copyright
© 1982 Cambridge University Press

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