Linear properties of eddies in a jovian troposphere forced by deep jets

Journal Article · Wed Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL016i011p01245· OSTI ID:5756449

Orsolini, Y; Leovy, C B ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Washington, Seattle (USA)

The authors use a linear quasi-geostrophic {beta}-plane model to study large-scale instabilities of the Jovian upper troposphere forced from below by zonal jets. The jets are presumed to be barotropically stable in the isentropic deep interior, but barotropically unstable in the statically stable upper troposphere. They explore the effect on this barotropic instability of weak vertical shear causing the jets to decay with height and find: (1) eastward jets are stabilized by weaker shear than westward jets, (2) the most unstable eddies are strongly confined by the shear, (3) eddy fluxes contribute to vertical decay of the jets, (4) the lower residual mean meridional circulation cells exhibit rising motion in regions of anticyclonic shear, but these are overlain by reverse cells.

• OSTI ID: 5756449
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA) Vol. 16:11; ISSN 0094-8276; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERES
ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
CALCULATION METHODS
CONVECTION
ENERGY TRANSFER
HEAT TRANSFER
INSTABILITY
JETS
JUPITER PLANET
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PERTURBATION THEORY
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
PLANETS
SHEAR
WIND