Drops, surface tension and diapir models

Dynamic similarity requires that laboratory models simulating geological diapirs must not be significantly affected by surface tension. This Short Note reviews the effects of surface tension and concludes that quantitative results of small model diapirs where the buoyancy force is close to the value of surface tension (Bond number, B₀, close to unity) may not be relevant to natural diapirs. To avoid the effects of surface tension (B_o > 1), physical models should be as large as possible, and use miscible fluids with low chemical diffusion rate and significant buoyancy.