New numerical solutions of three-dimensional compressible hydrodynamic convection

We present numerical solutions of three-dimensional compressible hydrodynamics (including sound waves) in a stratified medium with open boundaries. Convergent/divergent points play a controlling role in the flows, which are dominated by a single frequency related to the mean sound crossing time. Superposed on these rapid compressive flows, slower eddy-like flows eventually create convective transport. Our solutions contain small structures stacked on top of larger ones, with vertical scales equal to the local pressure scale heights, H-p. Although convective transport starts later in the evolution, vertical scales of H-p are apparently selected at much earlier times by nonlinear compressive effects.