What Are Convection Currents?
5. Stack Effect
Also referred to as the chimney effect, it demonstrates convection currents in a gaseous form. It describes the movement of air in and out of buildings due to buoyancy. Air density is different inside and outside of buildings due to differences in temperature and humidity.
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The force of buoyancy is dependent on these differences and the height of the structure. It can affect ventilation and how fires move. Stack effect allows less dense warm air to rise up and if there are escape routes, such an open window, it will cause leaks or exfiltration. This can be a problem when trying to regulate the temperature in a building.
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