double diffusion


double diffusion

[‚dəb·əl də′fyü·zhən] (fluid mechanics) A type of convective transport in fluids that depends on the difference in diffusion rates of at least two density-affecting components. Also, it is necessary to have an unstable or top-heavy distribution of one component. For example, in oceanography, the two components are heat and dissolved salts, and the unstable component is the slower-diffusing salt.