Authors
Dan E Kelley
Publication date
1990/3/15
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans
Volume
95
Issue
C3
Pages
3365-3371
Description
This paper deals with two aspects of the flux law for diffusive convection: (1) the dependence on density ratio, and (2) the dependence on ΔT. Empirical formulations of the dependence of temperature and salinity fluxes on density ratio are developed using published measurements. At high density ratios (Rρ > 4) our temperature fluxes agree with those given by Marmorino and Caldwell's (1976) formulation, but at low density ratios (Rρ < 2.5) our temperature fluxes are smaller by half. However, it is suggested that any formulation of the 4/3 flux law should be used with caution. A simple convection theory implies that fluxes are not proportional to ΔT4/3, as the 4/3 law states, but rather are proportional to ΔT raised to an power closer to 5/4. The theory accurately matches measurements of velocity and heat flux in thermal convection. There are insufficient data to test (or even fully formulate) the theory for diffusive …
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