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Finite-amplitude convection in rotating spherical fluid shells

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 1997

A. Tilgner
Affiliation:
Institute of Physics, University of Bayreuth, D-95440 Bayreuth, Germany
F. H. Busse
Affiliation:
Institute of Physics, University of Bayreuth, D-95440 Bayreuth, Germany

Extract

Finite-amplitude convection in rotating spherical fluid shells is considered for a variety of Prandtl numbers P and Rayleigh numbers Ra up to about 10 times the critical value. Convection at low Rayleigh numbers in the form of azimuthally periodic or weakly aperiodic drifting waves is characterized by relatively low heat transport, especially for P ≲ 1. The transition to strongly time-dependent convection leads to a rapid increase of the heat transport with increasing Rayleigh numbers. Onset of convection in the polar regions is delayed, but contributes a disproportionate fraction of the heat transport at high Rayleigh number. The differential rotation generated by convection, the distributions of helicity, and the role of asymmetry with respect to the equatorial plane are also studied.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1997

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