Figure: Physical Mechanism of double diffusive convection.
source: https://gfd.whoi.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/03/lecture10_136325.pdf
| Diffusive regime requires negative gradient of both salinity and temperature. Temperature diffusivity (KT = 1.4*10-7 m2/s) is about two order of magnitude faster than salinity diffusivity (KS = 1.1*10-9 m2/s). A parcel of fluid displaced vertically downward quickly absorbs heat from its surroundings by diffusion while it is still fresh compared to the saline surrounding. The fluid parcel overshoots while rising back through the medium. This leads to oscillation of growing amplitude. |
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Figure: Physical Mechanism of double diffusive convection. source: https://gfd.whoi.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/03/lecture10_136325.pdf |