Scaling of Latitude‐Dependent Heat Transport in Geostrophic Convection

Abstract Latitudinal variations in heat transport shape the thermal and magnetic evolution of rapidly rotating planets, stars, and icy moons. Although global simulations have revealed strong equatorial–polar contrasts, a predictive scaling theory has been lacking. Here we use rotating Rayleigh‐Bénard convection with tilted rotation and gravity axes to model dynamics at different latitudes in the geostrophic regime. We derive scaling relations for convective length scales and the Nusselt number that explain the latitude dependence of heat transfer. At high latitudes, near onset and above onset; at low latitudes, . These relations, validated against direct numerical simulations in spherical shells, unify local and global models. The results provide the first predictive framework for latitude‐dependent rotating thermal convection, with implications for Earth's core, gas giants, stellar interiors, and ocean circulation in icy moons.

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Publication Details

Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
Published
2026-03-11
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1029/2025gl119650
Primary Topic
Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies
Type
article
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article

Scaling of Latitude‐Dependent Heat Transport in Geostrophic Convection

Veeraraghavan Kannan, Xiaojue Zhu, Varghese Mathai
Geophysical Research Letters
Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies
article

Scaling of Latitude‐Dependent Heat Transport in Geostrophic Convection

Veeraraghavan Kannan, Xiaojue Zhu, Varghese Mathai
article en

Abstract

Abstract Latitudinal variations in heat transport shape the thermal and magnetic evolution of rapidly rotating planets, stars, and icy moons. Although global simulations have revealed strong equatorial–polar contrasts, a predictive scaling theory has been lacking. Here we use rotating Rayleigh‐Bénard convection with tilted rotation and gravity axes to model dynamics at different latitudes in the geostrophic regime. We derive scaling relations for convective length scales and the Nusselt number that explain the latitude dependence of heat transfer. At high latitudes, near onset and above onset; at low latitudes, . These relations, validated against direct numerical simulations in spherical shells, unify local and global models. The results provide the first predictive framework for latitude‐dependent rotating thermal convection, with implications for Earth's core, gas giants, stellar interiors, and ocean circulation in icy moons.

Geophysical Research LettersVol. 53(6)
University of Massachusetts Amherst (US), Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (DE)
Life below water
Openalex Percentile: Top 26%
Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies
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