Large-scale instabilities in a non-rotating turbulent convection

Abstract

Formation of large-scale coherent structures in a turbulent convection via excitation of large-scale instability is studied. The redistribution of the turbulent heat flux due to non-uniform large-scale motions plays a crucial role in the formation of the coherent large-scale structures in the turbulent convection. The modification of the turbulent heat flux results in strong reduction of the critical Rayleigh number (based on the eddy viscosity and turbulent temperature diffusivity) required for the excitation of the large-scale instability. The mean-field equations which describe the large-scale instability, are solved numerically. We determine the key parameters that affect formation of the large-scale coherent structures in the turbulent convection. In particular, the degree of thermal anisotropy and the lateral background heat flux strongly modify the growth rates of the large-scale instability, the frequencies of the generated convective-shear waves and change the thresholds required for the excitation of the large-scale instability. This study elucidates the origins of the large-scale circulations and rolls in the atmospheric convective boundary layers and the meso-granular structures in the solar convection.