The intrinsic depth of horizontal convection

作     者：陈琛 王伟 吴德星 

作者机构：Physical Oceanography Lab. Ocean University of China 

出 版 物：《Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology》 (中国海洋湖沼学报（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2010年第28卷第3期

页      面：643-648页

核心收录：

学科分类：07[理学] 0707[理学-海洋科学] 070701[理学-物理海洋学] 

基　　金：Supported by the The National Basic Research Program (973 Program) (Nos. 2007CB816004, 2005CB422302) the National Outstanding Youth Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40725017) 

主　　题：tube model maximum velocity maximum entropy production rate 

摘      要：The mainstream depth of a return flow can be viewed as an intrinsic depth of horizontal convection. By using a theoretical tube model combined with the application of the Maximum Entropy Production Principle (MaxEPP) in thermodynamics, the following statements can be made. Under fixed external forcing, the system chooses a particular depth as the mainstream depth of its return flow, the depth of which not only satisfies the maximum circulation rate and the maximum heat transport, but also satisfies the maximum entropy production rate. A comparison between this intrinsic depth and the container height leads to the definition of a relative partial and full-penetration pattern of the circulation. Moreover, this intrinsic depth is found to vary with the external forcing; the regulation of this variation is related to the Modified Rayleigh number.