Motion of a heavy viscous fluid which forms a thin shell about a rotating planet in circular orbit
Abstract
In the present paper, the system of Navier-Stokes equations describing the motion of a heavy viscous incompressible fluid within the shell of a rotating sphere in circular orbit is solved with allowance for inertial transport forces and inertial Coriolis forces. The solution holds on the assumption that the radius of the sphere is much greater than the mean thickness of the shell. The existence of latitudes on the sphere at which separation of the fluid from the surface may occur is demonstrated. Conditions are established which give rise to strong meridian currents flowing from the equator to the poles.
- Publication:
-
Prikladnaia Matematika i Mekhanika
- Pub Date:
- February 1978
- Bibcode:
- 1978PriMM..42...87Z
- Keywords:
-
- Circular Orbits;
- Planetary Rotation;
- Rotating Fluids;
- Thin Walled Shells;
- Viscous Flow;
- Coriolis Effect;
- Incompressible Flow;
- Latitude;
- Meridional Flow;
- Navier-Stokes Equation;
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration