Mixing Mechanisms in Density Intrusions

In addition to gravity current front dynamics, another mixing behavior has been studied (sedimentary double diffusion, SDD). Laboratory experiments have been performed which explore conditions the only previous study did not. The experimental data obtained herein has been combined with the data from the earlier study. This comprehensive data set has been collapsed with the use of a newly-formulated theory based on gravity current dynamics. The theory formulated is similar to existing theory based upon thermal convection, but allowed for an easier extension to the flows at hand. Further, the complication of salinity has been added to the original problem of a warm, sediment-laden plume. It has been found that simple extensions of standard (i.e., two-component) double-diffusive convection could not adequately describe the behavior observed. Various possibilities were put forth to describe the results, with only a couple capable of describing the behavior (e.g., front-induced instability or Soret effects).

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

• Parsons, Jeffrey D.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Garcia, Marcelo H.

• Physical Oceanography

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI9904561

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/83457