Instantaneous and long-term averaged flow and active scalars features in turbulent double-diffusive convection

Abstract

We present recent results from large eddy simulations (LES) of bounded, turbulent, double-diffusive convection in seawater, focusing on small-aspect-ratio domains (2:2:1) across an extensive parameter range. We focus on presenting the main instantaneous and time-averaged features of flow, heat, and concentration fields. In addition to analyzing the power spectral density (PSD) and probability density function (PDF) at characteristic locations within the simulated domain, special attention is devoted to a detailed analysis of the budgets of the governing second-order correlations for different strengths of the imposed stable thermal stratification gradient.