A new type of boundary layer in a rapidly rotating gas

Abstract

Gaseous flow in a pie-shaped cylinder of infinite length rotating about the apex is considered. The horizontal flow is induced either by the temperature distribution or by the source/sink distribution on the walls θ = constant. It is found that along the vertical walls θ = constant the E½ boundary layer is formed, where E is the Ekman number. Although the equation governing the above boundary layer is very similar to that of the Ekman layer, it is a new type of boundary layer which may be called the buoyancy layer. Along the wall on which r is constant thermal boundary layers very similar to the Stewartson layers are found to be formed. The role of these layers is to mediate the temperature jump. These layers disappear in the incompressible limit.