Turbulent convection from isolated sources

Laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the evolution of a dense turbulent plume, specified by its buoyancy flux B o and source diameter D, issuing into a homogeneous, nonrotating, environment. This study was motivated by the desire to delineate velocity and buoyancy scaling for convection from isolated buoyancy sources of finite extent. Such flow configurations have relevance to geophysical (e.g., deep convection), environmental (e.g., urban heat island effect) and engineering (e.g., plume stacks) flows. Special attention was given to study the evolution of the plume following its initiation and the flow near the source when the influence of confining boundaries is insignificant. It was found that, for times t