Barotropic and baroclinic ageostrophic winds and completeness of solution for the Psi equations
- Univ. of Oklahoma, Norman (United States)
- State Univ. of New York, Albany (United States)
This paper examines the completeness of the solutions for three-dimensional ageostrophic circulations determined from the quasigeostrophic psi equations (or from the counterpart semigeostrophic psi equations in geostrophic-coordinate space). It is shown that a complete solution should contain two parts: a baroclinic part and a barotropic pan. The solution of the psi equations with homogeneous (zero) upper and lower boundary conditions yields only the baroclinic part of the ageostrophic wind field, while the barotropic part can be recovered from the ageostrophic vorticity equation. The barotropic ageostrophic wind field is two-dimensional and nondivergent. It may, be subdivided into rotational and harmonic parts, respectively forced by barotropic ageostrophic voricity and by nonhomogeneous lateral boundary conditions (with nonzero cross-boundary mass flux). Methods for obtaining the complete solution are proposed and examples are given, showing the possible significance of the barotropic ageostrophic wind. 18 refs., 3 figs., 2 tabs.
- OSTI ID:
- 6779037
- Journal Information:
- Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences; (United States) Vol. 50:4; ISSN 0022-4928; ISSN JAHSAK
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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