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Publication details for Professor Brian Straughan

Straughan, B. (2002). Global stability for convection induced by absorption of radiation. Dynamics of Atmospheres and Oceans 35(4): 351-361.

• Publication type: Journal papers: academic
• ISSN/ISBN: 0377-0265
• DOI: 10.1016/S0377-0265(02)00051-9
• Keywords: Penetrative convection; Nonlinear stability; Subcritical instability; Stable stratification
• View online: Online version
• Durham research online: DRO record

Author(s) from Durham

• Professor Brian Straughan

Abstract

We study the linear instability and nonlinear stability of a model, for convection induced by selective absorption of radiation, due to Krishnamurti. The nonlinear analysis yields critical Rayleigh numbers very close to the critical ones of linear instability theory and this demonstrates that linear theory effectively captures the physics of the onset of convection. Realistic boundary conditions appropriate to fixed surfaces are analysed and these reflect the experiments performed by Krishnamurti. The results obtained here lend much credence to use of the model of Krishnamurti for convection in a fluid layer stably stratified when the heat source depends on the concentration of the stratifying agent.