Finite-amplitude convection in rotating spherical fluid shells

Abstract

Finite-amplitude convection in rotating spherical fluid shells is considered for a variety of Prandtl numbers P and Rayleigh numbers Ra up to about 10 times the critical value. Convection at low Rayleigh numbers in the form of azimuthally periodic or weakly aperiodic drifting waves is characterized by relatively low heat transport, especially for P ≲ 1. The transition to strongly time-dependent convection leads to a rapid increase of the heat transport with increasing Rayleigh numbers. Onset of convection in the polar regions is delayed, but contributes a disproportionate fraction of the heat transport at high Rayleigh number. The differential rotation generated by convection, the distributions of helicity, and the role of asymmetry with respect to the equatorial plane are also studied.