  The Navier-Stokes equation driven by heat conduction is studied. As a
prototype we consider Rayleigh-B\'enard convection, in the Boussinesq
approximation. Under a large aspect ratio assumption, which is the case in
Rayleigh-B\'enard experiments with Prandtl number close to one, we prove the
existence of a global strong solution to the 3D Navier-Stokes equation coupled
with a heat equation, and the existence of a maximal B-attractor. A rigorous
two-scale limit is obtained by homogenization theory. The mean velocity field
is obtained by averaging the two-scale limit over the unit torus in the local
variable.
