Consistency of the mixing length theory

Abstract

The structure of the solar convection zone calculated according to the mixing length theory is found to be consistent with the transport of convective flux by a linear superposition of statistically independent unstable convective modes, provided the effects of turbulent conductivity and viscosity are taken into account. The resultant vertical velocity is in reasonable agreement with observed granular velocity in the atmosphere, but the horizontal velocity turns out to be too large for low l modes.