The Thermal Relaxation Time
Abstract
The thermal relaxation time for an atmosphere is the ratio of the thermal energy content to the energy flux, which can be much longer than the dynamic turn over time. We will discuss this issue and provide examples from simulations of solar convection in a domain extending from the surface to 20 Mm below the surface. At 20 Mm the turnover time is 2 days. The thermal relaxation time at 10 Mm depth is 2 years and at 20 Mm depth it is 19 years. This work was supported by NASA grants NNX07AH79G and NNX08AH44G and NSF grant AST0605738.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #216
- Pub Date:
- May 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010AAS...21631302S