Nonlinear Thermal Convection in a Layer with Imposed Energy Flux

Abstract

Results are reported of an investigation into the effect of the chosen boundary conditions on the steady finite-amplitude convective motions in a layer in which the average energy flux is imposed. The boundary conditions are chosen with a view to the application of the results to solar granulation and supergranulation. It is shown that, at high Rayleigh numbers, solutions do in fact exist for which there is no modulation in the energy flux and little fluctuation in the temperature across the boundaries.