Localization of convective breaking in a perturbed stratified atmosphere

The reaction to p e r t u r b a t i o n s at the b o t t om of a stably s t r a t i f i e d layer characterized by small periodical variations of the thermal s t a b i l i t y p a r a m e t e r and capped by a, less stable, semi-infinite layer has been studied. When resonance conditions for internal zero order waves (represented by solutions obtained neglecting the small periodical variations of the s t a b i l i t y p a r a m e t e r itself) t r a p p e d in t h e lower layer are satisfied, secondary waves, generated by the i n t e r a c t i o n of zero order waves and t h e small variations af t h e s t a b i l i t y p a r a m e t e r , t u r n out to be resonant too. Some information can then be obtained on the localization along the vertical of convective breaking (and turbulent patches) in the lower layer, t a k i n g into account t h e superposition of zero order and secondary waves. These results seem to be relevant for t h e comprehension of t h e dynamics of t h e atmospheric inversions as well as of the oceanic thermocline