Thermal Diffusion Length Scale Calculator
Evaluate caller diffusion-length convention multiplier times sqrt(kappa*t); not exact thermal-front depth or transient boundary-condition solution.
Description
A diffusion length scales with the square root of diffusivity times duration.
A diffusion length scales with the square root of diffusivity times duration. The numerical multiplier depends on the caller’s length convention.1
Enter positive diffusivity/multiplier and nonnegative elapsed seconds. Return modeled meters.
When to use Thermal Diffusion Length Scale Calculator
Use Thermal Diffusion Length Scale Calculator when you need to evaluate the supplied records under the calculation and evidence rules below. This is not an exact thermal-front position or a boundary-condition solution.
Prepare the observed ice, snow, water or geometry measurements and explicit calibration parameters requested. Keep coordinates, datum, density and time units consistent.
How to use Thermal Diffusion Length Scale Calculator and understand its results
- Prepare the observed ice, snow, water or geometry measurements and explicit calibration parameters requested. Keep coordinates, datum, density and time units consistent.
- Enter thermalDiffusivityM2Second, elapsedSeconds, callerDiffusionLengthMultiplier using the field table and calculation rules, then run the tool.
- Read diffusionLengthM. The explanation below defines the units, signs, ordering and any flags or placeholder values.
- If the tool reports an input issue, correct the values and run it again. Apply the stated assumptions when interpreting a successfully returned result.
| Input field | Meaning | Value type; see rules below | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| thermalDiffusivityM2Second | Thermal diffusivity m2 second | number | Required |
| elapsedSeconds | Elapsed seconds | number | Required |
| callerDiffusionLengthMultiplier | Caller diffusion length multiplier | number | Required |
Enter positive diffusivity/multiplier and nonnegative elapsed seconds. Return modeled meters.
length=multiplier×sqrt(diffusivity×seconds) Units, indexing, boundary conditions and exceptional cases are defined in the calculation rules above.
| Output field | Meaning | Value type |
|---|---|---|
| diffusionLengthM | Diffusion length m | number |
{
"input": {
"thermalDiffusivityM2Second": 0.000001,
"elapsedSeconds": 1000000,
"callerDiffusionLengthMultiplier": 2
},
"output": {
"diffusionLengthM": 2
}
}Limitations and assumptions
This is not an exact thermal-front position or a boundary-condition solution.
Numeric inputs, where present, must be finite. Follow the calculation-specific rules for overflow, underflow and exceptional cases. Missing required fields, extra fields, wrong value types and violations of the calculation rules are input errors.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use Rate Factor Arrhenius Temperature Calculator: A single-regime Arrhenius model scales a reference ice rate factor with temperature. Regime and pressure applicability are external assumptions. For a complementary task, use Vertical Velocity From Accumulation Calculator: An ideal steady ice column can use a linear vertical-velocity profile. The declared convention takes upward velocity as positive.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Rate Factor Arrhenius Temperature Calculator
A single-regime Arrhenius model scales a reference ice rate factor with temperature. Regime and pressure applicability are external assumptions.
- Vertical Velocity From Accumulation Calculator
An ideal steady ice column can use a linear vertical-velocity profile. The declared convention takes upward velocity as positive.