Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-k7p5g Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-12T05:39:22.886Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Observations of the cell structure of salt fingers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 March 2006

T. G. L. Shirtcliffe
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Cambridge University
J. S. Turner
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Cambridge University

Abstract

The phenomenon of salt fingers has been investigated optically to determine the geometry of the cells as seen from above. When the fingers are short, the flow appears to be highly turbulent, though a dominant scale is evident. When the fingers are longer, a cellular structure is clear. This structure changes only slowly, apparently in response to disturbances in the convecting layers which bound the fingers above and below, and becomes more nearly stationary as the fingers grow. Cell boundaries show a strong tendency to intersect at right angles, which favours the emergence of cells with a square horizontal section. As the fingers get longer the cell width increases, but more slowly than the length.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1970 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Baines, P. G. & Gill, A. E. 1969 On thermohaline convection with linear gradients. J. Fluid Mech. 37, 289.Google Scholar
Shirtcliffe, T. G. L. 1969 A dual-purpose schlieren system. J. Sci. Instrum. 2, 963.Google Scholar
Stern, M. E. 1960 The ‘salt-fountain’ and thermohaline convection. Tellus, 12, 172.Google Scholar
Stern, M. E. 1969 Collective instability of salt fingers. J. Fluid Mech. 35, 209.Google Scholar
Stern, M. E. & Turner, J. S. 1969 Salt fingers and convecting layers. Deep-Sea Res. 16, 497.Google Scholar
Turner, J. S. 1967 Salt fingers across a density interface. Deep-Sea Res. 14, 599.Google Scholar