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A mechanism for layer formation in a double-diffusive fluid

2003; Cambridge University Press; Volume: 497; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1017/s0022112003006785

1469-7645

Timour Radko,

Geological formations and processes

The dynamics of layer formation by salt fingers from the uniform temperature and salinity gradients is studied by direct numerical simulations of the two-dimensional Navier–Stokes equations. It is shown that formation of steps in the model is caused by the parametric variation of the flux ratio (), which leads to an instability of equilibrium with uniform stratification. These unstable large-scale perturbations continuously grow in time until well-defined layers are formed. Subsequent evolution of the numerical staircases is explained by considering the secondary instabilities of a series of salt finger interfaces.