Predicting the Rossby number in convective experiments

Abstract

The Rossby number is a crucial parameter describing the degree of rotational constraint on the convective dynamics in stars and planets. However, it is not an input to computational models of convection but must be measured ex post facto. Here, we report the discovery of a new quantity, the Predictive Rossby number, which is both tightly correlated with the Rossby number and specified in terms of common inputs to numerical models. The Predictive Rossby number can be specified independent of Rayleigh number, allowing suites of numerical solutions to separate the degree of rotational constraint from the strength of the driving of convection. We examine the scaling of convective transport in terms of the Nusselt number and the degree of turbulence in terms of the Reynolds number of the flow, and we find scaling laws nearly identical to those in nonrotational convection at low Rossby number when the Predictive Rossby number is held constant. Finally, we describe the boundary layers as a function of increasing turbulence at constant Rossby number.

As accepted in ApJ. 9 pages (including references). 4 figures, 2 tables

References in corpus (16)

• Large scale dynamics in turbulent Rayleigh-Benard convection
• Persistent Magnetic Wreaths in a Rapidly Rotating Sun
• Magnetic Cycles in a Convective Dynamo Simulation of a Young Solar-type Star
• From solar-like to anti-solar differential rotation in cool stars
• Approaching the Asymptotic Regime of Rapidly Rotating Convection: Boundary Layers vs Interior Dynamics
• Scaling regimes in spherical shell rotating convection
• Prandtl-, Rayleigh-, and Rossby-number dependence of heat transport in turbulent rotating Rayleigh-Benard convection
• On differential rotation and overshooting in solar-like stars
• Rapidly Rotating Suns and Active Nests of Convection
• Differential rotation in solar-like stars from global simulations
• Heat transport in the geostrophic regime of rotating Rayleigh-B{é}nard convection
• Confirmation of bistable stellar differential rotation profiles
• The Emergence of Solar Supergranulation as a Natural Consequence of Rotationally-Constrained Interior Convection
• Heat transport in rotating convection without Ekman layers
• Convective heat transport in stratified atmospheres at low and high Mach number
• Predicting the Rossby number in convective experiments

Cited by in corpus (9)

• Dedalus: A Flexible Framework for Numerical Simulations with Spectral Methods
• Powering Stellar Magnetism: Energy Transfers in Cyclic Dynamos of Sun-like Stars
• Convection with Misaligned Gravity and Rotation: Simulations and Rotating Mixing Length Theory
• Single-hemisphere dynamos in M-dwarf stars
• Dynamic flows create potentially habitable conditions in Antarctic subglacial lakes
• Predicting the Rossby number in convective experiments
• The partial ionisation zone of heavy elements in F-stars: a study on how it correlates with rotation
• Helioseismological determination of the subsurface spatial spectrum of solar convection: Demonstration using numerical simulations
• Internally heated and fully compressible convection: flow morphology and scaling laws