Effect of Baroclinicity on Vortex Axisymmetrization.Part Ⅱ：Baroclinic Basic Vortex

The effect of baroclinicity on vortex axisymmetrization is examined within a two-layer dynamical model.Three basic state vortices are constructed with varying degrees of baroclinicity：（i） barotropic,（ii） weak baroclinic,and （iii） strong baroclinic.The linear and nonlinear evolution of wavenumber-2 baroclinic disturbances are examined in each of the three basic state vortices.The results show that the radial propagating speed of the vortex Rossby wave at the lower level is larger with the stronger baroclinicity,resulting in a faster linear axisymmetrization process in the stronger baroclinic vortex.It is found that the nonlinear axisymmetrization process takes the longest time in the strongest baroclinic vortex among the three different basic vortices due to the weaker kinetic energy transfer from asymmetric to symmetric circulations at the lower level.A major finding in this study is that the same initial asymmetric perturbation can have different effects on symmetric vortices depending on the initial vortex baroclinicity.In numerical weather prediction models,this implies that there exists a sensitivity of the subsequent structural and intensity change solely due to the specification of the initial vertical shear of the tropical cyclone vortex.     

A numerical study of the effects of synoptic baroclinicity on stable boundary-layer evolution

The effects of synoptic baroclinicity on the evolution of the stable boundary layer are studied by using a numerical model in which the eddy exchange coefficients are determined from the turbulent kinetic energy and a local turbulent length scale. For model verification, several barotropic simulations are compared with those of higher-order closure models. The model predicts the existence of a value of geostrophic wind shear at which the nocturnal jet reaches its maximum intensity. The mechanism by which ageostrophic flow is generated and the role it plays in the development of the jet are explored. As baroclinicity increases, the directional shear in the wind near the level of the jet increases, thereby allowing the nocturnal inversion to grow to levels well above that of the jet.Journal Paper No. J-11109 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, IA. Project 2521.     

Variations in Wave Energy and Amplitudes along the Energy Dispersion Paths of Nonstationary Barotropic Rossby Waves

The variations in the wave energy and the amplitude along the energy dispersion paths of the barotropic Rossby waves in zonally symmetric basic flow are studied by solving the wave energy equation,which expresses that the wave energy variability is determined by the divergence of the group velocity and the energy budget from the basic flow.The results suggest that both the wave energy and the amplitude of a leading wave increase significantly in the propagating region that is located south of the jet axis and enclosed by a southern critical line and a northern turning latitude.The leading wave gains the barotropic energy from the basic flow by eddy activities.The amplitude continuously climbs up a peak at the turning latitude due to increasing wave energy and enlarging horizontal scale(shrinking total wavenumber).Both the wave energy and the amplitude eventually decrease when the trailing wave continuously approaches southward to the critical line.The trailing wave decays and its energy is continuously absorbed by the basic flow.Furthermore,both the wave energy and the amplitude oscillate with a limited range in the propagating region that is located near the jet axis and enclosed by two turning latitudes.Both the leading and trailing waves neither develop nor decay significantly.The jet works as a waveguide to allow the waves to propagate a long distance.     

Quasi-40-day oscillation and its teleconnection structure together with the possible dependence on conversion of barotropic unstable energy of temporal mean flow

A study is made of the distribution of the diagnostic quantity vector E and the teleconnection structure of 30-50 (quasi-40) day oscillation, together with the dependence on the conversion of barotropic unstable energy of mean flow in terms of ECWMF daily 500 hPa grid data in winter, indicating that the energy transportation is closely associated with the westerly jet position, with zonal (meridional) propagation in the strong (weak) wind region, that considerable conversion of barotropic energy occurs at the jet exit region where low-frequency oscillation gains energy from the mean flow, leading to maximum kinetic energy for the oscillation observed there, which is marked by evident barotropy in striking contrast to the baroclinicity at low latitudes and that the teleconnection core is related to the center of action in the atmosphere and bound up with the pattern of the west wind.     

冬季东亚-西太平洋西风急流基本结构及其异常的诊断分析

利用ECMWF再分析资料ERA40中的逐月风场和温度场资料,对冬季位于东亚-西太平洋上空的西风急流(WJS)基本结构和异常特征进行了分析.结果表明,一年当中最为强盛的冬季200 hPa WJS主体稳定地分布于东亚至西太平洋上空,向上向下均迅速减小.在对流层中高层,从东亚沿海到太平洋上空的西风系统较为深厚,低层对应着显著的大气斜压区.通过对东亚-西太平洋地区冬季200 hPa纬向风异常的EOF分解得到三种异常空间分布型,第一模态的中纬度西风异常主要发生于日界线以东的中东太平洋上空,第二、三模态则分别对应WJS主体发生增强/减弱和位置的北/南移动.WJS的这三种空间异常形态与中纬度低层大气斜压性的三种异常分布型相对应.通过对冬季WJS长期趋势的初步分析发现,近二十年来,洋面上空西风急流有增强趋势,这是由于急流轴南侧洋面上空大气存在显著增暖趋势、而急流轴北侧洋面上空却有变冷的趋势所造成的.     

Spatial differences in seasonal variation of the upper-tropospheric jet stream in the Northern Hemisphere and its thermal dynamic mechanism

NCEP/NCAR reanalysis daily data from 1951 to 2008 are used in this study to reveal the spatial-asymmetric features in the seasonal variation of the upper-tropospheric jet stream (UTJS) and its thermal dynamic forcing mechanism. The jet occurrence percentage distribution of the UTJS demonstrates a spiral-like pattern in winter, but it is quasi-annular in summer. The jet occurrence percentage in the Eastern Hemisphere is larger than that in the Western Hemisphere, and its maximum area is located further south. The polar front jet stream (PJS) and subtropical jet stream (SJS) can be distinguished over the Northern Africa and Asian regions, whereas only one jet stream can be observed over the Western Pacific and Atlantic Ocean. Furthermore, a single peak pattern is found in the seasonal variation of the SJS occurrence frequency with the highest jet occurrence appearing in winter and the lowest in summer, while a double peak pattern is observed in the seasonal variation of the PJS occurrence, i.e., the jet occurrence reaches its peaks in autumn and spring for the PJS. Based on the thermal wind theory, air temperature gradient and atmospheric baroclinicity are calculated and compared with the jet occurrence variation to explore the thermal dynamic forcing mechanism for the UTJS variation. In addition, synoptic-scale transports of eddy heat and momentum are also calculated. The results indicate that the SJS variation is primarily determined by the air temperature gradient and atmospheric baroclinicity, while the PJS variation is under great influence of the transport of eddy heat and momentum over Northern Africa and East Asia. The UTJS variation over the area from 140E to 70W cannot be well individually explained by the air temperature gradient and atmospheric baroclinicity. Further analysis indicates that UTJS variation over this area is largely under control of combined effect of the transport of eddy heat and momentum as well as the atmospheric baroclinicity.     

Wind-induced variability of ocean gyres

Stochastic wind forcing of ocean gyre circulations is examined using the ideas of generalized linear stability theory applied to the barotropic vorticity equation of a idealized ocean. The barotropic vorticity equation is linearized about a time-evolving basic state flow, and the spatial patterns of stochastic surface wind stress curl that are optimal for increasing the variability of the ocean are computed. The most disruptive pattern of stochastic forcing is found to be insensitive to: measures of variance, the optimization time, the temporal decorrelation time of the stochastic forcing, the time evolution of the basic state flow, the stability of the basic state flow, basin size, gyre symmetry, and the presence of bathymetry. In addition, the most disruptive pattern of wind stress curl is reminiscent of that which would be associated with individual large-scale weather systems in the atmosphere, and changes in the amplitude of the atmospheric teleconnection patterns. The response of a nonlinear model to stochastic forcing described by the optimal patterns is examined, and the dynamics of the response discussed.     

Linear momentum approximation and frontogenesis caused by baroclinic ekman momentum flow

A method of linear momentum approximation is proposed that deals with weak nonlinear problems in an ap-proximate manner. A motion of nonlinear nature is obtained in the system by assuming the motion to be in the form of linear momentum flow in the corresponding space introduced, followed by the transformation from the specified into a physical space. Significant results have been thereby derived in examining the effects of baroclinic Ekman mo-mentum flow upon Eady-type baroclinic waves and frontogenesis. Also, this technique can be applied to investigate the dynamic characteristics of the weak nonlinear boundary layer including topography, stratification and non-Ekmantype friction for gaining further insight into the influence on the boundary layer inner parameters of ter-rain, baroclinicity and inhomogeneous process so that the classic theory is revised.     

正压大气中的代数Rossby孤立波

本文研究了基本气流具有线性弱切变的非线性Rossby波,得到了一个非线性发展方程为Kubota方程,在一定的条件下,可变为Benjamin-Ono方程,并指出当代数Rossby孤立波的振幅越大时,代数Rossby孤立波的传播速度越小,基流切变越强,代数Rossby孤立波越慢,同时我们还指出在代数Rossby孤立波的振幅满足一定的条件下,代数Rossby孤立波才随纬度的增高(β减小)而减慢。并且代数Rossby孤立波的结构与大气中的偶极子阻塞是一致的。     

The impact of meridonal wind shear on baroclinic life cycle

In this study, initial-value calculations are performed with a primitive equation model to examine whether the stabilizing effect of the horizontal zonal wind shear in the background state can account for the observed variability in baroclinic life cycles. The life cycle calculations show that a greater maximum eddy energy is attained for the observed basic state with anomalously weak horizontal zonal wind shear, suggesting that the horizontal zonal wind shear indeed plays the dominant role in determining the eddy amplitude. In addition, under this weak shear, the life cycle produces a more pronounced poleward jet shift. Because model simulations of warmer climates tend to show both a poleward jet shift and more intense zonally localized tropical convection which tends to produce the weak shear state, the result of this study provides a mechanism whereby the strengthening of tropical convection can contribute toward the poleward jet shift in warm climates.     

MESOSCALE NONLINEAR GRAVITATIONAL WAVES AND THEIR INTERACTION IN VERTICAL SHEAR FLOW*

Interaction equations of two nonlinear gravitational waves in baroclinic atmosphere are presented via multi-scale perturbation method,which can be classified into coupling nonlinear Schrodinger equations.In particular,the interaction course of two nonlinear gravitational waves of basic flow in vertical linear and quadratic shear is illustrated.Numerical calculation displays that wave amplitude enlarges and wave width narrows when two solitary gravitational waves meet and chase;that basic flow with single shear is more beneficial than that with quadratic shear to the interaction of two nonlinear wave packets;and that the interaction of two wave packets makes wave shape change more greatly and energy more dispersive,which contributes to the occurrence of changeable weather.Therefore,one of the probable mechanisms for the appearance of strong convection weather is the interaction between mesoscale nonlinear gravitational waves.     

我国北方地区一次沙尘暴天气特征分析

使用美国大气中心6h一次的NCEP再分析格点资料(1.0°×1.0°)对2002年3月18—22日发生在我国北方的大范围沙尘暴天气成因进行分析。从环流形势、物理量诊断、高空急流等方面进行研究分析,结果表明:蒙古气旋是这次沙尘暴天气的主要影响系统,这次气旋发生发展在斜压区,气旋的发展阶段温度平流作用明显。沙尘暴过程主要是由气旋冷锋及锋后地面大风触发的,地面大风的形成与气旋发展、锋后冷平流及高空急流动量下传有关。     

斜压气流的中尺度稳定性 Ⅰ.对称不稳定

本文是“斜压气流的中尺度稳定性”的第一部份,讨论斜压基流对平行型中尺度扰动的稳定性,寻找弱稳定层结大气中出现带状中尺度扰动的可能性及其对深厚对流云系的启动和组织作用。 用非弹性近似(anelastic assumption),导出适于用广义矩阵法及打靶法解特征值问题的理想大气扰动方程,并在线性风,双曲正切型风及飑线发生前的实测风分布下,计算出中尺度不稳定谱及特征扰动结构,通过能量分析,说明斜压性在产生这种非地转惯性对流中的作用。     

关于西风急流在强迫扰动中作用的数值试验

本文利用非线性水波方程谱模式模拟了不同基本气流对低纬和中纬地区涡源扰动的强迫响应，进而讨论西风急流在大尺度流场强迫扰动中的作用。试验分析表明，中纬度西风急流对来自低纬的扰动波列有增哟的阻 阻滞的作用，并能影响强迫扰动的波数和路径。在存在西风急流的情况下，基本气流对低纬扰源的响应比对中纬扰源的响应要强得多。     

Analytical and Numerical Investigation of Two-Dimensional Katabatic Flow Resulting from Local Surface Cooling

The analysis of katabatic flows is often complicated by heterogeneity in surface characteristics. This study focuses on an idealized type of katabatic flow driven by a simple form of inhomogeneous surface forcing: a buoyancy or buoyancy flux that varies down the slope as a top-hat profile (cold strip). We consider the two-dimensional Boussinesq system of governing flow equations with the slope angle, Brunt–Väisälä frequency, and coefficients of eddy viscosity and diffusivity treated as constants. The steady-state problem is solved analytically in a linearized boundary-layer framework. Key flow structures are a primary katabatic jet (essentially the classical one-dimensional Prandtl jet), a rotor-like feature straddling the upslope end of the strip, and two nearly horizontal jets: an inward jet of environmental air feeding into the primary jet on the upslope end of the strip and an outward jet resulting from the intrusion of the primary katabatic jet into the environment on the downslope end of the strip. Next, the corresponding nonlinear initial value problem is solved numerically until a steady state is reached at low levels. The main features of the linear solution are seen in the numerical results, but with some notable differences: (i) the primary jet in the numerical simulation requires a longer distance to attain a one-dimensional boundary-layer structure and extends further downslope off the strip before intruding into the environment; (ii) the numerically simulated outward environmental jet is narrower and more intense than the inward jet, and has a pronounced wave-like structure.     

Rossby wave propagation in a barotropic atmosphere

The ideas of ray tracing from geometrical optics and wave propagation in a slowly varying medium are applied to Rossby waves propagating in a barotropic atmosphere.The propagation of low-frequency Rossby waves in a zonally symmetric basic state is compared with that for stationary waves presented by Hoskins and Karoly (1981). These ideas are then used to study the propagation of Rossby waves in a basic state with zonally varying middle latitude or low latitude jets. Conditions which allow cross-equatorial wave propagation are presented. For a zonally varying middle latitude jet, there is weak wave convergence in regions of decreasing jet speed, However, this is not sufficient to explain the enhanced wave amplitude found in numerical-model experiments using a zonally varying basic state.     

切变基流中赤道Rossby包络孤立波

A simple shallow-water model on an equatorialβ-plane is employed to investigate the nonlinear equatorial Rossby solitons in a mean zonal flow with meridional shear by the asymptotic method of multiple scales. The cubic nonlinear Schrodinger (NLS, for short) equation, satisfied for large amplitude equatorial envelope Rossby solitons in shear basic flow, is derived. The effects of basic flow shear on the nonlinear equatorial Rossby solitons are also analyzed.     

Nonlinear impacts upon frontal cyclones from dipole surface temperature anomalies

Summary The effects of surface temperature anomalies (STAs) upon frontal cyclones are investigated with a nonlinear model. The model used is a modified version of the NCAR Community Climate Model (CCM 1). The experiments are run with hemispheric domain and R 30 (rhomboidal) truncation. The present study isolates the effects of sensible heating. Topography and latent heating are excluded from this model. The initial data are created from a solution (normal mode) to the linear eigenvalue problem. Six experiments use various locations and intensities for dipole-shaped STA; one control case is run without STA. The intensity is either ±5 or ±10°K and the anomalies ae located at 40°N, 50°N, or 35°N. The jet is centered at 40°N. All cases are run for 20 days. Nonlinear, time-dependent, growth rate and phase frequency are derived and compared to the linear (eigenvalue) amounts.The resulting waves grow primarily by baroclinic instability. Perturbation fields at higher levels grow faster before they mature (occlude) and decay faster afterward, than do lower level fields. The baroclinic conversion of energy lessens as the perturbations mature. The principal hypothesis tested is that: the STA alters the static stability which in turn modulates the baroclinic instability. Over warm anomalies the static stability should be reduced, enhancing baroclinic instability. Over cold anomalies the opposite may happen. The nonlinear simulations confirm this hypothesis in part. In the present study, the intensity of the warm anomaly produces greater growth rate during and after the storm's mature state. Larger STA intensity increases the maximum amplitude of the perturbation in a roughly linear fashion. However, the STA effects are nonlinear after maximum amplitude is reached: during decay, the difference in amplitude between the control case and the 10°K STA case is more than twice the difference between the control and 5°K case. In contrast, little deviation from the control case is found for perturbations over the cold anomaly, indicating a nonlinear link between STA and wave growth. The latitudinal variation used of the surface temperature anomaly centers had no significant influence on the baroclinic growth. Secondary growths of storms after 10 days are more commonly seen in cases with STA.     

切变基本纬向流中赤道Rossby包络孤立波

利用多重尺度摄动法，从描写赤道Rossby波的正压大气位涡度方程中推导出在切变基本纬向流中非线性赤道Rossby波包演变所满足的非线性Schrodinger方程，并得到其单个包络孤立子波解，分析基本流切变对非线性赤道Rossby波动的影响。     

A comparison of climatological subseasonal variations in the wintertime storm track activity between the North Pacific and Atlantic: local energetics and moisture effect

Distinct differences of the storm track?Cjet relationship over the North Pacific and North Atlantic are investigated in terms of barotropic and baroclinic energetics using NCEP-2 reanalysis data for the period of 1979?C2008. From fall to midwinter the Pacific storm track (PST) activity weakens following the southward shift of the Pacific jet, whereas the Atlantic storm track (AST) activity remains steady in position and intensifies regardless of the slight southward shift of the Atlantic jet. This study is devoted to seeking for the factors that can contribute to this conspicuous difference between the two storm tracks on climatological subseasonal variation by analyzing eddy properties and local energetics. Different eddy properties over the two oceans lead to different contribution of barotropic energy conversion to the initiation of storm tracks. In the North Atlantic, meridionally elongated eddies gain kinetic energy efficiently from stretching deformation of the mean flow in the jet entrance. On the other hand, the term associated with shearing deformation is important for the initiation of PST. Analysis of baroclinic energetics reveals that the intensification of the AST activity in midwinter is mainly attributed to coincidence between location of maximum poleward and upward eddy heat fluxes and that of the largest meridional temperature gradient over slight upstream of the AST. The relatively large amount of precipitable water and meridional eddy moisture flux along baroclinic energy conversion axis likely provides a more favorable environment for baroclinic eddy growth over the North Atlantic than over the North Pacific. In the meantime, the midwinter minimum of the PST activity is attributable to the southward shift of the Pacific jet stream that leads to discrepancy between core region of poleward and upward heat fluxes and that of meridional thermal gradient. Weakening of eddy-mean flow interaction due to eddy shape and reduction of moist effect are also responsible for the weakening of storm track activities in midwinter when the strongest baroclinicity exists over the North Pacific.