Thermal Instability

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Thermal Instability

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The conditions of temperature gradient, thermal conductivity, and viscosity which lead to the onset of convection in a fluid. Such gross phenomena as atmospheric winds are an example of this type of instability. In general, if the fluid is conducting, as a plasma, the applications of a magnetic field tends to reduce these thermal instabilities. </dd>

References

This article is based on NASA's Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use