Abstract

We report on high-resolution, three-dimensional, high-Rayleigh number and low density ratio numerical simulations of fingering convection. We observe a previously unreported phenomenon of self-organization of fingers, that cluster together to form larger-scale coherent structures. The flow ultimately forms density staircases alternating well mixed regions with fingering convective zones. We give evidence that the mechanical mixing induced by the clusters forms the staircases with a mechanism analogous to staircase formation in a stably-stratified, non-convective, stirred fluid.

Autore Pugliese

• Paparella Francesco

Tutti gli autori

• F. Paparella , J. von Hardenberg

Titolo volume/Rivista

PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS

Anno di pubblicazione

2012

ISSN

0031-9007

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

5

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

28/04/2018

Numero di citazioni Scopus

7

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

28/04/2018

Settori ERC

Non Disponibile

Codici ASJC

Non Disponibile