Molecular Diffusivity Effects on Mixing in a Diffusively-Stable, Turbulent Flow

9977208 Rehman这项实验室研究将考察热和盐的分子扩散系数之间的数量级差异对后者通过湍流传输的影响。重点将放在不稳定到双扩散不稳定的分层流动中的湍流上。这项研究的动机来自现场观测和数值模拟结果，这些结果表明，在某些类型的湍流中，存在热和盐的不同输送。实验室实验将提供比现场更可控的环境和更全面的观察。了解热量和盐分的不同输送发生的程度的重要性在于这些输送在决定海洋的密度分层以及由此确定海洋热量的大规模气候输送方面所起的作用。

9977208RehmannThis laboratory study will examine the effect of the order of magnitude difference between the molecular diffusivities of heat and salt on the transport of the latter quantities by turbulence. The focus will be on turbulence in stratified flows that are not unstable to double-diffusive instabilities. Motivation for this study comes from field observations and numerical modeling results which suggest that in some types of turbulent flow there is differential transport of heat and salt. The laboratory experiments will provide a more controlled environment and more comprehensive observations than can be achieved in the field. The importance of understanding the degree to which differential transport of heat and salt occurs lies in the role that these transports play in determining the density stratification of the ocean and consequently the large-scale climatological transport of heat by the ocean.