Microscopic Numerical Simulation of Convective Currents in Aquatic Canopies

Abstract In the present study, convective currents between open water and aquatic canopies are investigated numerically. These currents are produced due to differential radiation absorption between the two regions. The unsteady three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations are solved together with the energy equation, using the Boussinesq approximation. The vegetation is simulated by rigid cylinders. The absorption of radiation during the daytime is simulated by an additional source term in the energy equation. Three cases with different vegetation porosity are examined for comparison purposes. Numerical results for the current velocity and the water temperature are presented and compared for cases with different vegetation porosity.