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Nonlinear planetary wave reflection in the troposphere
Author(s) -
Abatzoglou John T.,
Magnusdottir Gudrun
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2004gl019495
Subject(s) - reflection (computer programming) , troposphere , middle latitudes , breaking wave , zonal flow (plasma) , potential vorticity , geology , nonlinear system , vorticity , geophysics , meteorology , physics , atmospheric sciences , wave propagation , vortex , optics , plasma , computer science , quantum mechanics , tokamak , programming language
Forty‐four years (1958–2001) of daily data from two re‐analysis data sets are used to investigate the occurrence of nonlinear reflection from planetary wave breaking (PWB). PWB is manifested in the large‐scale and rapid irreversible overturning of potential vorticity (PV) contours on isentropic surfaces in the upper troposphere. PWB takes place as a midlatitude wave train propagates equatorward toward a region of weak background zonal flow. As breaking occurs wave propagation is no longer possible. Linear theory predicts that wave activity will be absorbed in the wave‐breaking region following the event. Our results show that almost a third of all PWB events result in nonlinear reflection rather than absorption. The signature of the reflected wave train arching northward and downstream into midlatitudes is very similar to that of nonlinear reflection seen in a hierarchy of modeling studies.