Definition
Double-diffusive convection in lakes is a pattern formation in density stratified lakes, which results from largely different diffusivities of dissolved substances and heat.
Double-diffusive convection has been investigated in laboratory experiments and has been documented in tropical lakes (Lake Kivu: Newman, 1976, Lake Nyos: Schmid et al., 2004), but also in meromictic lakes of the temperate climate zone (von Rohden et al., 2010).
Introduction
When two physical quantities of different diffusivities contribute to density, double-diffusive convection can occur. Such features are visible if heat is one of the factors, as the diffusivity of heat is two orders of magnitude higher than of dissolved substances. However, from lab experiments, it is known that double-diffusive features can also occur at an interface of solutions of different substances (e.g., salt and sugar). For a general overview of double-diffusive effects, see the publication by Turner (1995), with a focus on...
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Bibliography
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Boehrer, B. (2012). Double-Diffusive Convection in Lakes. In: Bengtsson, L., Herschy, R.W., Fairbridge, R.W. (eds) Encyclopedia of Lakes and Reservoirs. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-4410-6_241
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