Dynamics of mixed layer in a nonuniformly stratified fluid heated from below

Unsteady natural convection in a nonuniformly stratified, finite depth layer of water heated from below has been studied. Laboratory experiments were performed using the Mach-Zehnder interferometer as a diagnostic tool for measuring temperature. A shadowgraph technique was used for flow visualization. A simple thermal and a more detailed two-differential equation turbulence models are used to predict the dynamics of mixed layer which develops when the thermally stratified fluid is heated from below.