Abstract

The stability and onset of two-dimensional convection in a rotating fluid saturated porous layer subject to gravity and centrifugal body forces is investigated analytically. The problem corresponding to a layer placed far away from the centre of rotation was identified as a distinct case and therefore justifying special attention. The stability of a basic gravity driven convection is analysed. The marginal stability criterion is established in terms of a critical centrifugal Rayleigh number and a critical wave number for different values of the gravity related Rayleigh number. For any given value of the gravity related Rayleigh number there is a transitional value of the wave number, beyond which the basic gravity driven flow is stable. The results provide the stability map for a wide range of values of the gravity related Rayleigh number, as well as the corresponding flow and temperature fields.