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The importance of nonlinear wave processes in a quiescent winter stratosphere
Author(s) -
Austin John,
Palmer T. N.
Publication year - 1984
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.49711046402
Subject(s) - stratosphere , geopotential height , wavenumber , geopotential , mesosphere , atmospheric sciences , amplitude , atmosphere (unit) , nonlinear system , physics , climatology , environmental science , atmospheric wave , atmospheric model , meteorology , gravity wave , geology , wave propagation , optics , precipitation , quantum mechanics
Abstract Linear wave modelling about a zonally symmetric state is often assumed to be able to simulate accurately time‐averaged planetary wave geopotential heights in the stratosphere during quiescent winter periods. We test this linear assumption by using a time‐dependent three‐dimensional primitive equation model of the stratosphere and mesosphere to simulate the quiescent winter stratospheric circulation during December 1980. The results from this simulation, together with two other idealized integrations, indicate that nonlinear wave interactions were crucial in accounting for the observed monthly mean wavenumber‐1 planetary wave amplitude, particularly in the upper stratosphere. Our results suggest that, in general, such interactions cannot be ignored for quantitatively accurate simulations of the middle atmosphere.