Effect of topography on a localized convection of a rotating fluid in shallow vessels

Convective motions in a rotating fluid that are driven by a localized buoya ncy source situated on the fluid surface are studied experimentally in shal low vessels with flat and spherical bottoms. It is shown that the shape of the bottom and the position of the buoyancy source may fundamentally alter the pattern of fluid motion, leading to both the blocking of vertical vorti ces near the source and the formation of intense jet streams away from it.