The influence of convective energy transport on dust formation in brown dwarf atmospheres

Convection is the main energy transport mechanism in brown dwarf atmospheres. The overshoot of ascending bubbles affects the upper and cooler region where dust formation can occur. In order to understand the observed presence of dust, the formation of grains and their gravitational settling must be balanced by up-mixing of condensible elements via convective overshoot. Otherwise, brown dwarf atmospheres would be completely dust-free (Woitke & Helling 2004).