Density Currents: Examples

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A sequence of photographs charting the exchange of fluid between salty (dyed on left) and fresh water (on right) in the Marsigli experiment is shown in Fig.1. The top left shot was taken a few seconds after stirring salty water in to the left partition. Currents can be seen issuing from left to right at the bottom, in to the fresh reservoir reaching speeds of several cm/s and striking the rhs wall and flowing upwards. Fresh water can be seen flowing in to salty reservoir, from right to left at the top.

As time progresses, salty water rises up beneath fresh water on the rhs and fresh water replaces salty water from the top on the lhs. There is significant entrainment and mixing of the two bodies of water in the process. The end-state, being approached after 15 mins or so in the bottom right panel, is one of rest with the interface at mid-level separating salty water below from fresher water above.

Fig.1 A sequence of photographs charting the exchange of fluid between salty (blue) and fresh (clear) water initially separated by a partition.