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The route to chaos in thermal convection at infinite Prandtl number. I - Some trajectories and bifurcationsThe question of whether or not thermal convection in the earth's mantle is chaotic is addressed. It is suggested that the high Prandtl number/high Raleigh number thermal convection associated with mantle convection is chaotic. To test this hypothesis, the route to chaos in a fluid with infinite Prandtl number is examined, using the Saltzman (1962) equations and the Lorenz (1963) equations. It is concluded that thermal convection at infinite Prandtl number becomes chaotic by means of symmetry-breaking pitchfork bifurcations and the appearance of Hopf bifurcations which produce unstable periodic orbits.
Document ID
19900024576
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Stewart, Cheryl A.
(Chicago, University IL, United States)
Turcotte, Donald L.
(Cornell University Ithaca, NY, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
October 10, 1989
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 94
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
90A11631
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGT-50203
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF EAR-87-21172
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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