Steady flow of a buoyant plume into a constant-density layer

Abstract

The upward flow of a buoyant plume emanating from a horizontal fissure into a two-layered fluid region is considered. Solutions are computed numerically for a range of fissure widths and water depths. It is shown that for a given fluid depth and fissure size there is a minimum flow rate beneath which no steady solutions exist. At this limiting flow, the fluid detaches from the wall of the fissure via a stagnation point. Solutions exist for all values of flow rate above this minimum. Exact solutions are presented for very large flow rates.