Discrete transitions and nonlinear oscillations in T-S driven experiments
Abstract
Simplified laboratory studies of convection of a salt-stratified ocean demonstrate a number of different flow patterns depending on externally imposed driving temperature, salinity difference, and the inherent internal time scales. Previous theory predicts that as heat flux parameter is increased, there is a sudden transition between two flow states. Velocities jump to greater values, while salinity and temperature in the small basin jump to another value. A variety of experimental results illustrate multiple states, discrete transitions, and oscillations. The behavior depends on macroscopic properties of the system such as cooling time, flushing rate of the driving and so forth, and needn't depend directly on any microscopic quantities such as diffusivity or viscosity. The dynamics will be reviewed, and model calculations of such discrete jumps and the oscillations will be shown. Since these regimes depend on the large-scale properties of the experiment, their relevance to climate problems will be mentioned.
- Publication:
-
APS Division of Fluid Dynamics Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- November 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003APS..DFD.FL001W