Turbulent plumes in stratified environments: A review of recent work

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This paper reviews recent developments in the theoretical modelling of Boussinesq turbulent plumes in both stratified and unstratified quiescent environments. The review focuses primarily on extensions to the classic entrainment model of Morton et al. (1956; MTT). Recent analytic solutions for the rise height in a stratified environment, for the rise height of turbulent fountains, and for the near‐source flow in large area source plumes are reviewed. Extensions to the theory of MTT are then reviewed, including models for plumes with a buoyancy flux that varies with height and for plumes with a buoyancy flux that varies with time. Recent experimental results are also reviewed and compared to these theoretical developments. Some open questions in turbulent plume theory are then discussed. It is shown that MTT are unable to model the rise of weak fountains satisfactorily and the significance of this result for the rise height of plumes in a stratified environment and, more generally, turbulent mixin...