ABSTRACTThe work focuses on developing a detailed understanding of the effects of initial composition (Cin) and bottom cooling temperatures (TB) on different characteristics of double-diffusive convection during unidirectional solidification of water-NH4Cl solution in a complete non-intrusive manner. The qualitative investigation, simultaneous quantification of transported parameters (composition and temperature) and fluid velocities associated with flow patterns are carried out using rainbow schlieren deflectometry, dual-wavelength interferometry and PIV (particle image velocimetry) technique respectively. The dependence of the characteristics of double-diffusive convection for different Cin and TB is explained on the basis of real-time whole-field investigation using a combination of aforementioned imaging techniques.