Shear Effects on Buoyancy-Generated Turbulence and Salt Fingers

Linear theory and laboratory experiments on a finger-favorable gravity current are applied to study turbulence in a salt finger favorable flow. The theory reproduces well previous observations for unsheared flow, and it predicts that heat can be transported more efficiently than salt, even in salt finger favorable conditions. Effects of shear on the flux ratio are small. The laboratory experiment also produces results similar to the linear theory. Even though the bulk mixing rate increases as the density ratio decreases, the heat flux is larger than the salt flux, and no strong signature of salt fingers was detected. Eddy diffusivities are estimated from control volume analysis and oceanographic microstructure methods.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Civil Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Hwang, Jin Hwan

Contributors dc:contributor

• Chris R. Rehmann

• Environmental Sciences

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI3153323

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/83240