Unsteady natural convection in a reservoir model subject to periodic heating and cooling at the water surface

Abstract

The present experimental investigation is concerned with the transient flow response in a reservoir model subject to periodic heating and cooling at the water surface. The experimental results show stable stratification during the heating phase and unsteady mixing in the reservoir during the cooling phase. It is demonstrated that the convective flows in reservoirs subject to transient temperature changes can play an important role in the transport of nutrients and pollutants between the shallow region and the bulk deep water.