|
|
|
Modeling Thermal Convection Using Citcom 7 - Mantle Convection Gallery |
|
Onset of Thermal Boundary Layer Instability. 
The fluid is initially of the same temperature 1. Starting at time 0, the fluid is cooled from the above with boundary temperature of 0 at the surface. The top thermal boundary layer thickens with time. After a certain period of time, the thermal boundary layer becomes unstable as Rayleigh number characterizing the top boundary layer reaches a critical level. Cold downwellings develop from the thermal boundary layer, which limits the thickening of the boundary layer. The downwellings also cool the mantle. |
|
© 2003 - University of Colorado |