3D Rayleigh-Bénard convection, simulated on a 100x100x50 grid, with Rayleigh number and Prandtl number Pr=1 (see description of the 2D case for more details). The colors relate to the temperature distribution, and the streamlines are derived from the fluid velocity.

3D Rayleigh-Benard convection

Predictions of the critical Rayleigh number are accurate in the 3D case, just as in 2D simulations. On a coarse grid with resolution 60x30x30, a value of , as compared to the expected value of .