Introduction to Modeling Convection in Planets and Stars

This book provides readers with the skills they need to write computer codes that simulate convection, internal gravity waves, and magnetic field generation in the interiors and atmospheres of rotating planets and stars. Using a teaching method perfected in the classroom, Gary Glatzmaier begins by offering a step-by-step guide on how to design codes for simulating nonlinear time-dependent thermal convection in a two-dimensional box using Fourier expansions in the horizontal direction and finite differences in the vertical direction. He then describes how to implement more efficient and accurate numerical methods and more realistic geometries in two and three dimensions. In the third part of the book, Glatzmaier demonstrates how to incorporate more sophisticated physics, including the effects of magnetic field, density stratification, and rotation.


Featuring numerous exercises throughout, this is an ideal textbook for students and an essential resource for researchers.

• Describes how to create codes that simulate the internal dynamics of planets and stars


• Builds on basic concepts and simple methods


• Shows how to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the numerical methods


• Describes more relevant geometries and boundary conditions


• Demonstrates how to incorporate more sophisticated physics

"Glatzmaier's work is synonymous with the cutting edge of research in this field, and his tried-and-true presentation has been perfected over many years of teaching. I know of no other book that focuses on computer modeling of convection in planets and stars as this one does. It is an ideal tutorial for graduate students, and will also be of great interest to senior researchers."—James M. Stone, Princeton University

"The computational methods Glatzmaier describes can be applied to a huge range of nonlinear problems, with a variety of physical effects. There is a great deal of potential here for new investigations. In fact, our generation has barely scratched the surface! This is an important message for young scientists, who will find in this book some of the tools they will need to make future advances in astrophysics and geophysics."—Chris A. Jones, University of Leeds

"I am certain that this book will prove to be extremely useful to students and professionals alike. It is engagingly written, timely, comprehensive, and perhaps most importantly, graduated in its approach. Gary Glatzmaier is internationally recognized as one of the best computational scientists in geophysics and astrophysics."—Peter L. Olson, Johns Hopkins University