A conservative semi-Lagrangian algorithm for one-dimensional advection-diffusion

This paper describes the incorporation of diffusive transport into the original semi-Lagrangian DISCUS algorithm for pure advection. An explicit treatment of diffusion is adopted following the approach used in the QUICKEST algorithm for advection-diffusion. The semi-Lagrangian treatment of the advection term relaxes the small time step restriction normally associated with Eulerian treatments of advection, but the Eulerian treatment of the diffusion term imposes conventional limitations on the scheme. Numerical experiments of advection-diffusion, however, indicate that DISCUS has advantages over the QUICKEST scheme for advection-diffusion in three key areas: stability, accuracy and computational efficiency.