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Mean meridional circulations in the atmosphere
Author(s) -
Tucker G. B.
Publication year - 1959
Publication title -
quarterly journal of the royal meteorological society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.744
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1477-870X
pISSN - 0035-9009
DOI - 10.1002/qj.49708536504
Subject(s) - zonal and meridional , circulation (fluid dynamics) , latitude , climatology , general circulation model , middle latitudes , atmospheric sciences , atmospheric circulation , atmosphere (unit) , meridional flow , environmental science , energy balance , geology , meteorology , geography , climate change , physics , geodesy , mechanics , oceanography , thermodynamics
The mean meridional circulation in winter and summer is derived as a function of latitude and height from an analysis of observed winds in the area 160°W‐0‐40°E, 75°N‐15°N. The results confirm the classical idea of a direct circulation in low latitudes, but the indirect circulation in middle latitudes is stronger than expected. An investigation of the energy released by the meridional circulation implies that it is of comparable importance to large‐scale disturbances in the energy balance of the general circulation.