Further developments in the theory of convective currents

Abstract

The Haltiner theory of saturated steady state convective currents which Includes the transfer of heat and momentum by lateral diffusion as well as the entrainment of environmental air is discussed. A modified model is presented which includes, as a separate term, the drag of the liquid water carried along by the ascending current . The system of equations is integrated numerically for several cases previously considered by Haltiner allowing entrainment to assume negative values (detrainment ) and the results are compared „ The results are in good agreement, and show that the net effect of the opposing actions of liquid water drag and detrainment is a reduction in the computed vertical velocities. This reduction appears to be a correction in the right direction on the basis of a comparison to some observed data.