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Double-diffusive instabilities in a vertical slot

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 August 1999

OLIVER S. KERR
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics, City University, Northampton Square, London EC1V 0HB, UK
KIT YEE TANG
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics, City University, Northampton Square, London EC1V 0HB, UK

Abstract

A fluid stably stratified by a salinity gradient and enclosed between two vertical boundaries can become unstable when it is subjected to a temperature difference between the walls. The linear stability of such a fluid in a vertical slot is investigated. Errors in earlier results are found, confirming recent results of Young & Rosner (1998). Four different asymptotic regimes on the stability boundary are identified. One of these, the limit of a strong salinity gradient, has previously been analysed. The analyses of the separate asymptotic limits of weak salinity gradient, large temperature difference and small wavenumber are also given. These four cases make up much of the total boundary between stability and instability for double-diffusive instabilities in a vertical slot, and so most of this boundary can be mapped out for general Prandtl numbers and salt/heat diffusivity ratios using these results.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1999 Cambridge University Press

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