Boundary layers in rotating weakly turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection

Stevens, R.J.A.M.; Clercx, H.J.H.; Lohse, D.

doi:10.1063/1.3467900

Publication 3 · Thermal convection

Boundary layers in rotating weakly turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection

R.J.A.M. Stevens, H.J.H. Clercx, D. Lohse, Phys. Fluids 22, 085103 (2010).

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Main finding

Weak rotation changes the large-scale-circulation-controlled thermal boundary layer smoothly in the low-Rayleigh-number simulations. The proposed laminar scaling is conditional and does not establish a universal turbulent boundary-layer law or predictive transition model.

Normalised heat transfer against Rossby number with the onset of enhancement marked — **How to read the figure.** Heat transport normalised by its non-rotating value against the Rossby number, with the onset of enhancement marked and the boundary-layer behaviour inset. At this modest Rayleigh number the response is smooth, and the transport changes differently before and after organised Ekman pumping sets in. The laminar scaling proposed alongside it is a hypothesis; the figure does not establish a universal rotating turbulent boundary-layer law. Open the full-resolution figure. Figure 2. R.J.A.M. Stevens et al. (2010). No separate licence is stated here; consult the original publication and credited source before reuse.

Why this matters

Rotation can alter heat transfer differently before and after organized pumping appears.

Research context

Earlier heat-transfer maps and state-transition studies define the rotation regime; this paper isolates the accompanying thermal and kinetic boundary-layer response. Later aspect-ratio, sidewall, and flow-state studies test how far that smooth low-Rayleigh-number picture transfers.

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