Self-similar starting plume

For constant kinematic buoyancy flux $f_0$ from a point source, dimensional analysis gives head height and radius proportional to $f_0^{1/4}{t}^{3/4}$, head velocity proportional to $f_0^{1/4}{t}^{-1/4}$, and head reduced gravity proportional to $f_0^{1/4}{t}^{-5/4}$. Dimensionless coefficients require the chosen fluid entrainment and head closures.

For a spherical buoyant thermal fed only through the moving top of a Boussinesq point-source plume, put $\lambda =R/B$ and $B=(6\alpha /5)Z$. Relative inflow $\pi B^2(w_p-\dot{Z})$ and $\dot{V}=4\pi R^2\dot{R}$ implyThe ratio of Froude numbers is $5/[\sqrt{\lambda }(5+24\alpha {\lambda }^3)]$ when both use plume reduced gravity $g_p$. Normalizing the thermal with its own $g_t=9g_p/4$ multiplies this by $2/3$. These two definitions must not be interchanged when stating bounds.