A theoretical and experimental study of thermal disturbances propagating in a fluid layer heated from below

Abstract

A theoretical and experimental study is presented of the longitudinal propagation of disturbances in an unstably stratified fluid layer, especially those generated by periodic temperature fluctuations at a side boundary. The most important characteristics of the waves at both supercritical Rayleigh numbers, in the presence of steady roll-like cells, and subcritical Rayleigh numbers are determined.