The effect of concentrated PV gradients on stationary waves

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(1994)051<3455:TEOCPG>2.0.CO;2· OSTI ID:81656

Lindzen, R S ^[1]

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1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (United States)

The author reexamines the Charney-Drazin problem with special attention to the concentration of potential vorticity gradient in the neighborhood of the tropopause. It is found that the degree of concentration has a profound effect on the response to stationary forcing, with greater concentration leading to greater response. Smoothing the concentration either analytically or numerically (by using coarser-resolution) both lead to reduced responses, especially at higher wavenumbers. The results suggest a potentially important interaction between baroclinically unstable eddies and stationary waves. Insofar as the former act to mix potential vorticity in the troposphere while concentrating gradients at tropopause levels, they significantly condition the basic state for the latter. 13 refs., 19 figs., 1 tab.

• DOE Contract Number: FC03-90ER61010
• OSTI ID: 81656
• Journal Information: Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, Journal Name: Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences Journal Issue: 23 Vol. 51; ISSN 0022-4928; ISSN JAHSAK
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
FORCING FUNCTIONS
MIXING
STANDING WAVES
TROPOPAUSE
TROPOSPHERE
VORTICES