Two-fluid single-column modelling of Rayleigh-Bénard convection as a step towards multi-fluid modelling of atmospheric convection

Shipley, D. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7812-8309, Weller, H. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4553-7082, Clark, P. A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1001-9226 and McIntyre, W. A. (2022) Two-fluid single-column modelling of Rayleigh-Bénard convection as a step towards multi-fluid modelling of atmospheric convection. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 148 (742). pp. 351-377. ISSN 1477-870X doi: 10.1002/qj.4209

Abstract/Summary

Multi-fluid models have recently been proposed as an approach to improving the representation of convection in weather and climate models. This is an attractive framework as it is fundamentally dynamical, removing some of the assumptions of mass-flux convection schemes which are invalid at current model resolutions. However, it is still not understood how best to close the multi-fluid equations for atmospheric convection. In this paper we develop a simple two-fluid, single-column model with one rising and one falling fluid. No further modelling of sub-filter variability is included. We then apply this model to Rayleigh-Bénard convection, showing that, with minimal closures, the correct scaling of the heat flux (Nu) is predicted over six orders of magnitude of buoyancy forcing (Ra). This suggests that even a very simple two-fluid model can accurately capture the dominant coherent overturning structures of convection.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/101316
Identification Number/DOI	10.1002/qj.4209
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Science > School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences > Department of Meteorology
Publisher	Royal Meteorological Society
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