Mass transfer through the diffusive interface in a two-layer, salt-stratified system under a horizontal temperature gradient

The present experimental study describes the mass transfer across the inter face between convection cells in a two-layer, salt-stratified system under a horizontal temperature gradient for various parameters. We employed a sma ll conductivity temperature sensor which is designed to measure simultaneou sly the temperature and concentration of the fluid. The interfacial mass tr ansfer rate in terms of Sherwood number depends on the thermal Rayleigh num ber and initial buoyancy ratio. In particular, the Sherwood number is found to significantly increase when the initial buoyancy ratio is much less tha n unity due to interfacial instabilities. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. Al l rights reserved.