Spontaneous Production of Flow Patterns—Cellular Convection

The laboratory and theoretical convection cells described in this chapter have energy flow that is very similar to mantle convection which leads to the production of the great tectonic plates. The overall structure of the circulation that exists in a fluid dynamics theory and in the laboratory has dramatic similarities and distinct differences from the mantle. Cellular convection has the advantage that we understand how the cells form and reach some of their final configurations. The first stability study by Rayleigh shows how the flow of heat allows background disturbances to grow if a certain criterion that is named after him, the Rayleigh number, is met. The cells develop a surface boundary layer with high heat flow to the upper surface.