This is a demonstration two-dimensional simulation of a positively buoyant thermal bubble in a neutral environment. The domain has rigid upper and lower boundaries and is periodic in the horizontal direction. The resolution is very crude, the domain is too shallow and narrow, the Mach number is too high and the numerical scheme is quite elementary, but the basic behavior of the rising thermal is captured.

The contoured field is vertical velocity, with downward motion indicated by the dashed contours. The shaded field is the temperature anomaly calculated relative to the initial condition. The animated GIF will loop through twice. For further looping, please hit your browser's reload button.

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Page created June, 1998, by Robert Fovell