Turbulent bubble or droplet plumes: oceanic methane and carbon-dioxide releases

Dr. Silvana Cardoso

Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge

We study the motion of turbulent two-phase plumes, comprising a continuous phase of entrained fluid and a dispersed phase in the form of buoyant droplets/bubbles. Chemical reaction or dissolution causes both a decrease in the size of the droplets/bubbles and a change in the buoyancy of the plume. The behaviour of such a plume in environments with uniform and stratified density is examined. We apply our findings to understand the dynamics of localised releases of methane and carbon dioxide in the ocean.