Diffusion-driven flows due to an obstruction layer

Abstract

With the confirmation of experiments, two new concepts about diffusion-driven flow are discussed and demonstrated. Although Phillips- Wunsch flow has been shown to exist along sloping boundaries, it is shown here that even an obstruction layer with only vertical walls produces a type of diffusion-driven flow. This is demonstrated through the execution of a dye test. Additionally, the influence that impermeable obstructions have on the density evolution of a stratified fluid is developed theoretically and demonstrated experimentally. With the use of two different types of obstruction layers, the theory is shown to accurately predict the density evolution.