Some exploratory experiments with a new type of rotating, differentially-heated fluid annulus

Abstract

Some experiments with a rotating differentially heated annulus are presented. It is demonstrated that with suitable construction of the annulus the strength of the zonal baroclinic motion may be chosen independently of the basic density stratification. In the experiment reported it was found that baroclinic instability occurred in a state characterized by small isotherm slopes. Certain aspects of the observed flow and temperature fields—in particular the basic stratification and the slope of the isotherms —are compared with approximate theoretical predictions. Certain basic difficulties associated with the sensitivity of the baroclinic flow to small changes in the boundary conditions are discussed.