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The response of a nonlinear, time‐dependent, baroclinic model of the atmosphere to tropical thermal forcing
Author(s) -
Grose W. L.,
Blackshear W. T.,
Turner R. E.
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.49711046611
Subject(s) - baroclinity , extratropical cyclone , barotropic fluid , forcing (mathematics) , climatology , nonlinear system , momentum (technical analysis) , primitive equations , geostrophic wind , geology , atmosphere (unit) , atmospheric sciences , physics , environmental science , meteorology , finance , quantum mechanics , numerical partial differential equations , economics
A multi‐level, sigma coordinate, primitive equation atmospheric model has been utilized to study both the tropical and extratropical response to an isolated region of steady thermal forcing in the tropics. The nonlinear response during the first 28 days of the simulation is described. The response can be generally characterized by two distinct components. The first component is a quasi‐stationary disturbance which extends eastward and poleward away from the source region along a ‘great circle’ path. The structure of this disturbance is essentially barotropic away from the source region. The second component is a growing baroclinic wave propagating zonally at mid‐latitudes. Significantly, this disturbance is apparently the result of baroclinic instability induced by the quasi‐stationary wavetrain. The discussion is predominantly heuristic in form and relies heavily on graphical presentation and quasi‐geostrophic theory to interpret the response and individual components of the thermodynamic energy and momentum equations.