Large-scale numerical simulations: Convection in an annular channel rotating about a vertical axis with side-walls

Abstract

AbstractFor the purpose of understanding the dynamics of planetary atmospheres, we use the annular convection model to simulate the dynamics of atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn. The model (annular channel) rotates about a vertical axis with side-walls, and it is heated from below.We use the software NaSt3DGP (a parallel software package to solve the 3D incompressible fluid dynamic problems in Cartesian coordinates by using Finite Difference Method) for the computation. It's reliability is tested by our application to simulate fully three-dimensional nonlinear convection in a box with lateral stress-free side-walls, uniformly heated from below. We found that, at moderately large Rayleigh numbers, the complex formation of multiple-jet flows can be maintained by the traveling convective eddies; we also found that the type of the sidewall velocity condition does not play an essential role in determining the primary properties of strongly nonlinear convection.