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Nonlinear effects on heat‐induced circulation of the tropical atmosphere
Author(s) -
Gill A. E.,
Phlips P. J.
Publication year - 1986
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.49711247105
Subject(s) - tropopause , nonlinear system , equator , bernoulli's principle , amplitude , inflow , atmosphere (unit) , outflow , mechanics , climatology , asymmetry , atmospheric sciences , physics , environmental science , meteorology , geology , thermodynamics , troposphere , astronomy , quantum mechanics , latitude
A nonlinear model of the atmospheric response to an isolated region of heating centred on the equator is constructed by expanding in a small amplitude parameter. In order to emphasize nonlinear effects relative to frictional ones, the asymptotics of the small‐friction limit are first derived, and this limiting solution is used as the first term in the expansion with respect to the amplitude parameter. Compared with the linear solution. the nonlinear solution has more inflow from the west at the surface and a reduced easterly outflow at the tropopause. Moreover the pressure is reduced when velocities are large because of the Bernoulli effect. The conclusions are in good general agreement with the numerical results of Nobre and the observational study of Sardeshmukh and Hoskins.