Large eddy simulation approach in problems on floating up of high-temperature thermals in stratified atmosphere

In dealing with problems on the floating up of a high-temperature thermal, numerical investigations are performed of characteristic features of gasdynamic flow in simulating turbulent mixing by large eddy simulation. Good agreement is demonstrated of the dynamics of floating up of the upper edge of heated cloud with experimental and theoretical data for the value of the method parameter (Smagorinsky constant) of the order of unity, while the most frequently employed values are those of 0.1–0.2. The calculations of floating up of an infinite system of thermals regularly arranged at the Earth surface using rather fine grids enable one to refine some previously calculated characteristics of elevation of such a system.