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On the dynamics of convection waves
Author(s) -
Sang J. G.
Publication year - 1993
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.49711951206
Subject(s) - convection , vortex , mechanics , physics , boundary layer , convection cell , free convective layer , longitudinal wave , geophysics , classical mechanics , meteorology , wave propagation , natural convection , combined forced and natural convection , optics
The linearized system of atmospheric equations is solved analytically for a two‐layer model to study the characteristics of convection waves. The solutions show that convection waves induced by a disturbance are composed of trapped waves with selected wave numbers that are determined by the interaction between the convective boundary layer and the overlying stable layer. The explicit relation of wave‐number selection defines the pattern of the vortices in the convection waves, which may appear as cloud streets, cellular convections or convective thermals. The wave‐number selection explains the formation of longitudinal and cellular convections and the transition between them. The analytical solutions of the convection waves reveal, theoretially, the structure of the large vortices in the convective boundary layer, and bring to light the effects of the upper stable layer on these vortices.