Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-dh8gc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T06:40:49.116Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Inequalities and variational principles in double-diffusive turbulence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 April 2006

Melvin E. Stern
Affiliation:
Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881

Abstract

An inequality pertaining to the energetics of the boundary layer in turbulent pipe flow and turbulent thermal convection is generalized for the double-diffusive convection problem, where a semi-infinite layer of cold, fresh and light water overlies another hot, salty and dense layer. The smallest possible salt/heat-flux ratio equals the ratio of the square roots of the respective diffusivities. The bound is asymptotically realizable according to a variational principle. A bound on the relative fluxes is predicted when another solute is added (‘multiple diffusion’).

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1972 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Deardorff, J. W., Willis, G. E. & Stockton, B. H. 1980 Laboratory studies of the entrainment zone in a convectively mixed layer. J. Fluid Mech. 100, 4164.Google Scholar
Griffiths, R. W. 1979 The transport of multiple components through thermohaline diffusive interfaces. Deep-Sea Res. 26A, 383397.Google Scholar
Huppert, H. E. & Moore, D. R. 1976 Nonlinear double-diffusive convection. J. Fluid Mech. 78, 821854.Google Scholar
Linden, P. F. & Shirtcliffe, T. G. L. 1978 The diffusive interface in double-diffusive convection. J. Fluid Mech. 87, 417432.Google Scholar
Stern, M. E. 1975 Ocean Circulation Physics. Academic.
Stern, M. E. 1979 Inequalities and variational principles in turbulent transport. J. Fluid Mech. 91, 513540.Google Scholar
Stern, M. E. 1980 A variational principle for turbulent flow. Phys. Fluids, 23, 21612170.Google Scholar
Turner, J. S. 1973 Buoyancy Effect in Fluids. Cambridge University Press.
Turner, J. S., Shirtcliffe, T. G. L. & Brewer, P. G. 1970 Elemental variations of transport coefficients across density surfaces in multiple diffusive systems. Nature 228, 10831084.Google Scholar
Veronis, G. 1968 Effect of a stabilizing gradient of solute on thermal convection. J. Fluid Mech. 34, 315336.Google Scholar