Surface Friction Effects on Thermal Convection in a Rotating Fluid: A Laboratory Simulation

A series of experiments were conducted to simulate in the laboratory some of the conditions described by the numerical model of Wilkins et al. (1974). Questions regarding the entrainment of turbulent fluid are considered and the experimental data are examined. Attention is given to continuous rotation experiments, rotation 'spin down' experiments, 'spin-up' experiments, and scaling factors.