Past exam of the year 2 of the earth sciences (geology) course of the University of Oxford / 2022 / Paper 1 / 10 / b / ii / Solution

Choose $t_1=1/(\kappa k^2)$ to make the sketch explicit. The three profiles areThey have the same wavelength, zero crossings and phase, with amplitudes $A$, $0.3679A$ and $0.1353A$. Diffusion reduces the temperature gradient and amplitude; it does not advect or change this individual mode’s wavelength.