A thermal cycle in the atmosphere

Summary It is shown that in order for a steady-state closed circulation to be maintained in the atmosphere, the working of the pressure force on a particle moving round the closed circuit is exactly balanced by the working of the particle against friction. It is concluded that sources of heat are associated with low surface pressure, and sinks with high surface pressure. This association of sources and sinkswith low and high surface pressure is verified, for circulations ranging in scale from that associated with an individual cumulus cloud to large-scale monsoonal systems.     

Role of wave–mean flow interaction in sun–climate connections: Historical overview and some new interpretations and results

Quasi-decadal variations in solar irradiance – termed the 11-year solar cycle (SC) – have been linked to variations in a variety of atmospheric circulation features, including the polar vortex, the Brewer–Dobson circulation, and the quasi-biennial oscillation. These features share an underlying commonality: they are all rooted in wave–mean flow interaction. The purpose of this paper is to provide a historical overview of the connection between the SC and wave–mean flow interaction and to propose a more complete theoretical framework for solar modulated wave–mean flow interaction that includes both zonal-mean and zonally asymmetric ozone as intermediaries for communicating variations in solar spectral irradiance to the climate system. We solve a quasi-geostrophic model using the WKB formalism to highlight the physics connecting the SC to planetary wave-drag. Numerical results show the importance of the zonally asymmetric ozone field in mediating the effects of solar variability to the wave-driven circulation in the middle atmosphere.     

Baroclinic instability with variable static stability—a design study for a spherical atmospheric model experiment

Abstract

Exact solutions are obtained for a quasi-geostrophic baroclinic stability problem in which the rotational Froude number (inverse Burger number) is a linear function of the height. The primary motivation for this work was to investigate the effect of a radially-variable, dielectric body force, analogous to gravity, on baroclinic instability for the design of a spherical, synoptic-scale, atmospheric model experiment for a Spacelab flight. Such an experiment cannot be realized in a laboratory on the Earth's surface because the body force cannot be made strong enough to dominate terrestrial gravity. Flow in a rotating, rectilinear channel with a vertically variable body force and with no horizontal shear of the basic state is considered. The horizontal and vertical temperature gradients of the basic and reference states are taken as constants. Consequences of the body force variation and the other assumptions of the model are that the static stability (Brunt-Väisälä frequency squared) and the vertical shear of the basic state flow have the same functional form and that the transverse gradient of the potential vorticity of the basic state vanishes. The solutions show that the stability characteristics of the model are qualitatively similar to those of Eady's model. A short wavelength cutoff and a wavenumber of maximum growth rate are present. Further, the stability characteristics are quantitatively similar to Eady's results for parameters based on the vertically averaged Brunt-Väisälä: frequency. The solutions also show that the temperature amplitude distribution is particularly sensitive to the vertical variation of the static stability. For the static stability and shear decreasing (increasing) with height a relative enhancement of the temperature amplitude occurs at the lower (upper) surface. The other amplitudes and phases are only slightly influenced by the variation. The implication for the Spacelab experiment is that the variable body force will not significantly alter the dynamics from the constant gravity case. The solutions can be relevant to other geophysical fluid flows, including the atmosphere, ocean and annulus system in which the static stability undergoes variation with height.     

梅雨与北极涛动及平流层环流异常的关联

平流层过程如何影响气候变化是一个大家关注的科学问题,在WCRP中专门设置了一个研究子计划SPARC.本文的分析研究表明,中国的梅雨异常可能受到平流层大气环流异常的影响,而这种影响是通过北极涛动（AO）的变化来实现的.从分析和计算结果可以看到,二月份北半球30 hPa位势高度的EOF第一主分量对应着副热带和高纬度地区的显著下传异常波作用量,其第三主分量对应着极地地区的显著下传异常波作用量,这些下传的异常波作用量都对三月份AO形势的形成有明显的贡献.三月份的AO则会通过影响东亚地区夏季对流层大气的冷暖状况和环流,在长江中下游地区导致异常垂直运动和辐散辐合形势,从而影响夏季的梅雨降水.     

Natural climatic changes and solar cycles: an analysis of hydrological time series

Abstract

The effects induced on the climate by human activity have become a major issue for the new millennium. In order to arrive at sustainable conclusions it is necessary, first of all, to assess and quantify natural climatic changes. In general this is done by analysing available time series. In the case of historical hydrometeorological data sets, a comparative analysis with solar cycles is not usually conducted. This work, however, demonstrates that the effect of solar cycles observed at the Equator is also visible at middle and high latitudes with multiple periodicity of the basic solar frequency (roughly 11 years). This could well be due to the interaction between solar forcing and circulation mechanisms within the atmosphere, i.e. water-air-soil interactions coupled with anthropogenic forcing. This theory has been tested by comparing different types of historical data series with the River Po discharges and cyclic appearance of slime bloom in the Adriatic Sea.     

旋转流场中的格子波耳兹曼模型

在大尺度的旋转流场中,由于存在哥氏力,使流体的流动出现了一系列复杂的动力学现象.在原格子Boltzmann模型研究的基础上,引入了哥氏力效应,发展了一个旋转流场中的格子Boltzmann模型.从该模型出发可导出地球流体力学方程,用这一模型对理想边界条件下的北半球大气环流进行了数值计算.数值结果很好地再现了大尺度地转流的流动特征.从理论和数值实验上验证了该模型的适用性.     

Properties of QBO and SAO generated by gravity waves

In this paper we present an extension for the 2D (zonal mean) version of our numerical spectral mode (NSM) that incorporates Hines’ Doppler spread parameterization (DSP) for small-scale gravity waves (GW). This model is applied to describe the seasonal variations and the semi-annual and quasi-biennial oscillations (SAO and QBO). Our earlier model reproduced the salient features of the mean zonal circulation in the middle atmosphere, including the QBO extension into the upper mesosphere inferred from UARS measurements. The model is extended to reproduce the upwelling at equatorial latitudes that is associated with the Brewer–Dobson circulation — which affects significantly the dynamics of the stratosphere as Dunkerton had pointed out. In the presence of GW, this upwelling is produced in our model with tropospheric heating, which generates also zonal jets outside the tropics similar to those observed. The resulting upward vertical winds increase the period of the QBO. To compensate for that, one needs to increase the eddy diffusivity and the GW momentum flux, bringing the latter closer to values recommended in the DSP. The QBO period in the model is 30 months (mo), which is conducive to synchronize this oscillation with the seasonal cycle of solar forcing. Associated with this QBO are interannual and interseasonal variations that become increasingly more important at higher altitudes — and this variability is interpreted in terms of GW filtering that effectively couples the dynamical components of the mesosphere. The computed temperature amplitudes for the SAO and QBO are in substantial agreement with observations at equatorial and extra-tropical latitudes. At high latitudes, however, the observed QBO amplitudes are significantly larger, which may be a signature of propagating planetary waves not included in the present model. The assumption of hydrostatic equilibrium not being imposed, we find that the effects from the vertical Coriolis force associated with the equatorial oscillations are large for the vertical winds and significant for the temperature variations even outside the tropics, but the effects are small for the zonal winds.     

Propagation of Stationary Planetary Waves in the Upper Atmosphere under Different Solar Activity

Numerical modeling of changes in the zonal circulation and amplitudes of stationary planetary waves are performed with an accounting for the impact of solar activity variations on the thermosphere. A thermospheric version of the Middle/Upper Atmosphere Model (MUAM) is used to calculate the circulation in the middle and upper atmosphere at altitudes up to 300 km from the Earth’s surface. Different values of the solar radio emission flux in the thermosphere are specified at a wavelength of 10.7 cm to take into account the solar activity variations. The ionospheric conductivities and their variations in latitude, longitude, and time are taken into account. The calculations are done for the January–February period and the conditions of low, medium, and high solar activity. It was shown that, during high-activity periods, the zonal wind velocities increases at altitudes exceeding 150 km and decreases in the lower layers. The amplitudes of planetary waves at high solar activity with respect to the altitude above 120 km or below 100 km, respectively, are smaller or larger than those at low activity. These differences correspond to the calculated changes in the refractive index of the atmosphere for stationary planetary waves and the Eliassen–Palm flux. Changes in the conditions for the propagation and reflection of stationary planetary waves in the thermosphere may influence the variations in their amplitudes and the atmospheric circulation, including the lower altitudes of the middle atmosphere.     

Inertial theory of the mean Hadley circulation under the condition of nonstatic equilibrium

1 Introduction The mean meridional circulation plays an important role in the transportation and balance of heat, momen- tum, vortex and vapor between different latitudes. According to the data analysis, there are three circula- tions from the equator to the polar area: the Hadley circulation, a heat-driven circulation which rises around the equator and sinks at a certain latitude; the subpolar circulation, another heat-driven circulation around the polar area; and the Ferrel circulation, an i…     

Secondary circulation induced by flow curvature and Coriolis effects around headlands and islands

Previous studies have shown that flow curvature in river bends generates a secondary circulation in the plane normal to the mean flow direction. A similar circulation pattern is shown to exist in oceanic situations when flows are subject to curvature, mainly due to interaction with topographic features. However, it is shown that, due to differences between oceanic conditions and river bends, theory and prediction methods based on the assumptions for river bends are invalid for oceanic flows. Via scaling arguments based on the equations of motion, that include both the effects of flow curvature and the Coriolis force, parameters that govern the different flow regimes are identified. The maximum strength of the secondary flow is derived for each flow regime and is verified using a three-dimensional (3-D) numerical model applied to an idealized island. It is also shown that upwelling, due to the generation of secondary flow, occurs off the tips of the headland or island, and its influence can extend far downstream.Responsible Editor: Richard Signell     

Numerical Simulation of Mesoscale Circulations in a Region of Contrasting Soil Types

Mesoscale processes that form due to changes in surface characteristics play a dominant role in the development of the planetary boundary layer structure and the formation of convection. In this study, effects of the Sandhills region of North and South Carolina on mesoscale processes are examined. Climatological analyses indicate increased convective precipitation in this location as compared to the surrounding region. This is believed to be due to enhanced convection induced by horizontal heat flux gradients caused by sharp changes in soil type and hence the heat capacity of the soil. Simulations using a non-hydrostatic mesoscale model (MM5 version 3.3) were made for a non-precipitation case with a 5-km resolution domain centered over the Carolinas from August 15, 2000 to August 18, 2000. The results showed the existence of a mesoscale circulation over the Sandhills region. Differential heating induced by contrasting soil types dividing the Coastal Plain from the central Piedmont causes this circulation. Sea-breeze circulation often combines with the Sandhills circulation to initiate convection in this region. Diurnal variations are handled well by the model indicating that the thermodynamic structure of the atmosphere is well simulated.     

Seismic analysis of a rotor-bearing system

The seismic analysis of a rotor-bearing system is presented in the time domain. The governing equations of motion for the rotor are derived including the effects of rotatory inertia, shear deformation, gyroscopic effects, axial force, axial torque, stiffness and damping provided by the lubricants in the bearings, base translation and base rotation. A simple and efficient finite rotor element based on a Galerkin formulation is proposed to model the rotor. The effects of disks and flywheels mounted on the rotor are also included in the analysis. An example problem for a rotor-bearing system is solved using El Centro earthquake data. Four cases are investigated that will permit one to study the influence of spin, base rotation, comparison between rigid body model and beam model and the influence of axial force and axial torque. The results of the above study show that the gyroscopic effects amplify the response of the rotor-bearing system. The base rotations of the rotor-bearing system under seismic excitation contribute significantly to the response.     

Solar activity and dynamic processes in the atmosphere and world ocean heat content

The scenario of climatic changes in the 20th century has been presented in the scope of the developed model concerning the effect of solar activity on the parameters of the climatic system governing the energy flux, outgoing from the Earth into space in the high-latitude regions. The regularities of changes in the circulation in the atmosphere and ocean are discussed. Specific attention is paid to the causes of a “cold snap” in 1940–1976 in the Northern Hemisphere and the nature of an anomalous increase in the heat content in the Earth climatic system (ocean) in 1969–1980. It has been indicated that these phenomena result from changes in the circulation in the atmosphere and ocean (specifically, a change in the thermohaline circulation in the Northern Atlantic), heat exchange between the ocean and the atmosphere and cryosphere.     

Study of spatial and temporal structure of long-term effects of solar activity and cosmic ray variations on the lower atmosphere circulation

The spatial and temporal structure of the effects of solar activity (SA) and galactic cosmic ray (GCR) flux variations on the lower atmosphere circulation has been studied based on NCEP/NCAR reanalysis archive for 1948–2006 and MSLP (Climatic Research Unit, UK) data for 1873–2000. It has been shown that the GCR effects on pressure variations are characterized by a strong latitudinal and regional dependence, which is determined by specific features of the tropospheric circulation in the studied regions. The distribution of the correlation coefficients for mean yearly values of atmospheric pressure with the GCR flux intensity is closely related to the position of the main climatological fronts. The periodic (∼60 years) changes in the correlation sign of the pressure at high and middle latitudes with Wolf numbers have been revealed. It has been suggested that the changes of the sign of SA/GCR effects on atmospheric pressure are caused by the changes of the macrocirculation epochs, which, in turn, may be related to large-scale processes on the Sun.     

Aqueous alteration in the Northwest Africa 817 (NWA 817) Martian meteorite

Samples of a new Martian meteorite of the nakhlite family (NWA 817) contain traces of an iron-rich alteration product. Textural arguments indicate that this alteration product has been formed on the parent body of the meteorite (Mars). The chemical composition and structural data (X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and vibrational spectroscopy) show that the alteration mineral is a hydrous phase from the smectite family. Major elements and rare earth elements suggest that the formation of the alteration phase is related to the circulation of an aqueous fluid which composition is controlled by the dissolution of feldspars to account for a positive Eu anomaly, olivine and possibly apatite. Hydrogen isotope data display negative δD values ranging from −60 to −280‰ in olivine and pyroxenes and from −140 to −181‰ in the alteration phase. The values of δD for the alteration product show a small scatter with a mean value of −170±14‰. These values are lower than those previously obtained on other Martian meteorites, which give mainly positive δD values. These positive values have been interpreted as resulting from the interaction of the Martian meteorites with water from the Martian atmosphere. Ruling out the effect of terrestrial alteration, it is suggested that alteration in the NWA 817 meteorite was likely produced on Mars by the circulation of an aqueous fluid originating from a chemical reservoir, such as the Martian mantle, which has not equilibrated with a fractionated Martian atmosphere.     

Note on Coriolis-Stokes force and energy

In this study, we consider the origin of the Coriolis-Stokes (CS) force in the wave-averaged momentum and energy equations and make a short analysis of possible energy input to the ocean circulation (i.e., Eulerian mean velocity) from the CS force. Essentially, we find that the CS force appears naturally when considering vertically integrated quantities and that the CS force will not provide any energy input into the system for this case. However, by including the “Hasselmann force”, we show some inconsistencies regarding the vertical structure of the CS force in the Eulerian framework and find that there is a distinct vertical structure of the energy input and that the net input strongly depends on whether the wave zone is included in the analysis or not. We therefore question the introduction of the “Hasselmann force” into the system of equations, as the CS force appears naturally in the vertically integrated equations or when Lagrangian vertical coordinates are used.     

Theory of internal gravity wave saturation

Gravity wave saturation is an important process affecting the transport and deposition of momentum, heat, and constituents in the earth's atmosphere. This paper informally discusses several saturation mechanisms and their effects, including convection, Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, vortical mode instability, parametric subharmonic instability, and mean flow interaction. Convective saturation is emphasized. The parameterization of convective adjustment is discussed and a few remarks are made concerning the effects of turbulence localization on the convective saturation process. Several outstanding problems in saturation theory are identified that could be addressed with observational, numerical, and laboratory studies.     

On the interaction between a radiatively damped planetary wave and the zonally averaged circulation in the middle atmosphere

The interaction between a planetary wave damped by cooling to space and the zonally averaged circulation in the middle atmosphere is examined for a steady-state situation in middle latitudes. Quasi-geostrophic scaling of Type 2 is assumed (i.e. the space scales are planetary and the superrotation is small).A set of mean equations is derived for this scaling which is complementary to the set of perturbation equations previously studied. The mean equations show that a planetary wave induces a mean meridional circulation which is balanced by an eddy momentum forcing function and a mean diabatic heating which is balanced by an eddy heat flux forcing function. The vertical eddy fluxes enter the forcing at the same order as the horizontal eddy fluxes.An analytical wave solution is found for the case of an atmosphere in constant superrotation. The eddy fluxes and forcing functions are evaluated for this special case. It is found that they are very sensitive to the values of the radiative damping coefficient and the superrotation. Since the damping coefficient depends on the ozone concentration and the intensity of the solar ultraviolet flux, the results suggest that changes in these quantities can strongly modify the wave-mean flow interaction in the middle atmosphere. Possible implications for climate change are discussed.     

长偶极大功率可控源激励下目标体电性参数的频率响应

利用三维（3D）全空间积分方程准线性解作为数值模拟手段,对包含电离层、大气层和地球介质层的“地-电离层”典型异常目标体多层介质模型进行了数值模拟,得到了偶极源长度100 km、电流200 A、收发距离远达1600 km的合理的异常电性目标体的电阻率-频率响应结果.通过对不同埋深异常目标体的电阻率-频率特征的讨论,认为当考虑电离层和大气层的“地-电离层”大尺度深层横向不均匀复杂介质模拟时,电磁场对深部目标体仍有很好的异常响应,但当异常体电阻率及同一电阻率的岩石埋深不同时,其电阻率-频率的响应特征有很大不同,这正反映了不同岩石物性参数的电阻率-频率响应特征.文中结果表明从长偶极大功率源（WEM）激励的电磁场观测资料区分岩石的电阻率参数是可能的,这为利用WEM观测资料建立电性参数和岩石/地层参数经验关系奠定了基础.