Convective superstructures are observed in many turbulent flows in nature. Canonical models of convection in horizontally-extended domains reveal turbulent superstructures too. Superstructures contribute significantly in global transport of heat through the fluid layer. We aim to understand their characteristics for a variety of external conditions. 

Relevant publications:

• A. Pandey, D. Krasnov, K. R. Sreenivasan, and J. Schumacher, Convective mesoscale turbulence at very low Prandtl numbers, J. Fluid. Mech. 948, A23 (2022).

• E. Fonda*, A. Pandey*, J. Schumacher, and K. R. Sreenivasan, Deep learning in turbulent convection networks, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 116 (18) 8667—8672 (2019). 

• A. Pandey, J. D. Scheel, and J. Schumacher, Turbulent Superstructures in Rayleigh-Bénard convection, Nat. Commun. 9, 2118 (2018).

Many turbulent flows in nature that are driven by thermal convection experience the effects of rotation. Turbulent rotating convection is an elementary set-up that provides crucial understanding of such flows. We strive to understand the properties of convective flows in confined rotating domains. 

Relevant publication:

• A. Pandey and K. R. Sreenivasan, Turbulent convection in rotating slender cells, J. Fluid Mech. 999, A28 (2024).

Convection in two-dimensions is not just a simpler model used to access parameters not readily available with three-dimensional models. Two-dimensional convection has its own peculiarities that demand exploration. We explore convection in closed or horizontally-periodic domains to understand the boundary layer structure, behavior of transient state, turbulent Prandtl number, and others. 

Recent publications:

• A. Pandey and K. R. Sreenivasan, Transient and steady convection in two dimensions, J. Fluid Mech. 1015, A42 (2025).

• A. Pandey, J. Schumacher, and K. R. Sreenivasan, Non-Boussinesq convection at low Prandtl numbers relevant to the Sun, Phys. Rev. Fluids 6, 100503 (2021).

• A. Pandey, Thermal boundary layer structure in low-Prandtl-number turbulent convection, J. Fluid Mech. 910, A13 (2021).