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.     

The effect of barotropic shear on baroclinic instability Part I: Normal mode problem

The effect of barotropic shear in the basic flow on baroclinic instability is investigated using a linear multilevel quasi-geostrophic β-plane channel model and a nonlinear spherical primitive equation model. Barotropic shear has a profound effect on baroclinic instability. It reduces the growth rates of normal modes by severely restricting their structure, confirming earlier results with a two-layer model. Dissipation, in the form of Ekman pumping and Newtonian cooling, does not change the main characteristics of the effect of the shear on normal mode instability.Barotropic shear in the basic state, characterized by large shear vorticity with small horizontal curvature, also effects the nonlinear development of baroclinic waves. The shear limits the energy conversion from the zonal available potential energy to eddy energy, reducing the maximum eddy kinetic energy level reached by baroclinic waves. Barotropic shear, which controls the level of eddy activity, is a major factor which should be considered when parameterizing the eddy temperature and momentum fluxes induced by baroclinic waves in a climate model.     

边界层动力学中的Ekman动量近似

自由大气中,大气运动的基本状态是地转风,近年来发展的地转动量近似,是为了进一步研究非均匀地转流的动力学问题,然而,在边界层大气中,运动的基本状态是经典的Ekman流,所以对边界层运动来说,地转动量近似是不合适的,需作一推广。本文提出了一种所谓Ekman动量近似,它相似于自由大气中的地转动量近似,并讨论了Ekman动量近似的物理基础,对边界层的风场结构及边界屋顶部的垂直速度也作了详细分析。     

Ekman动量近似下中间边界层模式中的风场结构

发展了一个准三维的、中等复杂的边界层动力学模式，该模式包含了EKman动量近似下的惯性加速度和Blackadar的非线性湍流粘性系数，它进一步改进了Tan和Wu(1993）提出的边界层理论模型。该模型在数值计算复杂性上与经典Ekman模式相类似，但由于包含了Ekman动量近似下的惯性项，使得该模式比传统Ekman模式更近于实际过程。中详细地比较了该模式与其他简化边界层模式在动力学上的差异，结果表明：在经典的Ekman模式中，由于忽略了流动的惯性项作用，导致在气旋性切变气流（反气旋性切变气流）中风速和边界层顶部的垂直速度的高估（低估），而在半地转边界层模式中，由于高估了流动惯性项的作用，结果与经典Ekman模式相反。同样，该模式可以应用于斜压边界层，对于Ekman动量下的斜压边界层风场同时具有经典斜压边界层和Ekman动量近似边界层的特征。     

热力强迫对湿斜压大气中南亚高压平衡态的影响

本文基于Lorenz的湿模式,引入地形效应并进行适当简化,在低谱近似下得到了描述大气运动的非线性耗散系统。讨论了在热力强迫与大气环流的非线性相互作用下,湿、斜压大气在参数空间的平衡态与南亚高压的流型分布及其东西摆动。结果表明:南亚高压典型的平衡态流型是西部型、东部型和带状高压,而且东西部流型的转换并非高压中心的连续位移,而是表现为一个高压中心消失后经过流场上的调整重新建立新的高压中心的过程。     

Dynamics of nonlinear baroclinic Ekman boundary layer

By the geostrophic momentum approximation, the wind structure and vertical motion within the non-linear baroclinic Ekman layer matching with the surface layer are determined. A comparison of the Ekman solution with the classical one is made. It is demonstrated that the contributions of baroclinity, stratification and nonlinear effects to the wind profile within the layer are all of definite importance.     

半地转近似下的非线性波

本文应用半地转的概念分析和求解了正压和斜压的大气运动。指出:(1)在水平无辐散或准地转条件下求单波解无法表现非线性作用的困难,可以应用半地转的假定来解决。为了避开上述困难,不得已仅保留部分非线性项,但为了准确表征大尺度运动,最好应用半地转假定,保留全部非线性项。(2)准地转的假定可以滤去快速波动,半地转的假定同样也可以滤去快速波动,而且半地转条件下的Rossby波具有充分的非线性特征。所以,它为讨论非线性问题提供了一个途径。     

Variational principle of instability of atmospheric motions

Problems of instability of rotating atmospheric motions are investigated by using nonlinear governing equations and the variational principle. The method suggested in this paper is universal for obtaining criteria of instability in all models with all possible basic flows. For example, the model can be barotropic or baroclinic, layer or continuous, quasi-geostrophic or primitive equations; the basic flow can be zonal or nonzonal, steady or unsteady.Although the basic flows possess a great deal of variety, they all are the stationary points in the functional space determined by an appropriate invariant functional. The basic flow is an unsteady one if the conservation of angular momentum is included in the associated functional.The second variation, linear or nonlinear, gives the criteria of instability. Especially, the general criteria of instability for unsteady basic flow, orographically disturbed flow as well as nongeostrophic flow are first obtained by the method described in this paper.It is also shown that the difference between the criteria of instability obtained by the linear theory and our variational principle clearly indicates the importance of using nonlinear governing equations.In the appendix the theory is extended to cases such as in a β-plane where the fluid does not possess finite total energy, hence the variational principle can not be directly applied. However, a generalized Liapounoff norm can still be obtained on the basis of variational consideration.     

斜压性与非线性Ekman抽吸的动力特征

本文利用Ekman动量近似研究了斜压性对Ekman层动力学的影响,得到了一些新的结果。大气斜压性对Ekman层的水平风速分布及近地面的风速矢的水平分量夹角有重要的改变作用。斜压边界层顶部的非线性Ekman抽吸(垂直运动)由三个不同的物理因子决定,第一、正压性的地面地转涡度,第二、斜压性作用产生的热成风涡度,第三、正压性的地面地转涡度与斜压性的热成风涡度的非线性相互作用。这些理论结果为边界层的参数化及数值模拟结果的解释提供物理基础。     

A simple model of baroclinic adjustment and parameterization of eddy heat transport

Summary A nonlinear, forced, dissipative quasi-geostrophic, two-level -plane model of baroclinic instability is formulated. The model resolves a baroclinic zonal flow and a wave of arbitrary zonal scale. Multiple equilibrium solutions describing Hadley and eddy circulations coexist. Only the circulation with smaller thermal wind is stable. The most efficient eddy activity occurs at a zonal wavenumber close to the wavelength of maximum instability of linear baroclinic instability theory. For a wide range of forcing and dissipative parameters, the steady baroclinic zonal wind of the eddy regime is close to the critical shear of linear theory. Eddy statistics are obtained analytically in terms of the doparture of the zonally symmetric state from radiative equilibrium. A parameterization for the eddy heat transport is obtained.With 14 Figures