Premium
A zonally symmetric model for volcanic influence upon atmospheric circulation
Author(s) -
Schatten Kenneth H.,
Mayr Hans G.,
Harris Isadore,
Taylor Harry A.
Publication year - 1984
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/gl011i004p00303
Subject(s) - volcano , atmosphere (unit) , atmospheric sciences , equator , troposphere , atmospheric circulation , geology , momentum (technical analysis) , angular momentum , zonal flow (plasma) , climatology , latitude , atmospheric model , geophysics , environmental science , meteorology , physics , geodesy , plasma , seismology , oceanography , finance , quantum mechanics , economics , tokamak
We consider the effects of volcanic activity upon zonal wind flow in a model atmosphere. A low latitude volcanic eruption could lower the tropospheric pole to equator temperature difference and thereby affect the atmospheric motions. When the temperature contrast decreases, the zonal wind velocities at high altitudes are reduced. To conserve angular momentum, the velocities in the lower atmosphere near the surface must increase, thus providing a momentum source for ocean currents. We suggest that this momentum source may have played a role as a trigger for inducing the 1982‐83 anomalous El Nino and possibly other climate changes.