Comparison of geostrophic and nonlinear balanced winds from LIMS data and implications for derived dynamical quantities

Nimbus 7 LIMS geopotential height data are utilized to infer the rotational wind distribution in the Northern Hemisphere stratosphere and lower mesosphere during a period of substantial wave-mean flow interaction in January, 1979. Rotational winds are derived from the application of a successive relaxation numerical procedure which incorporates the spherical polar coordinate iterative algorithm ofPaegle andTomlinson (1975) for the nondivergent nonlinear balance equation. Optimum convergence of the numerical solutions is found to occur when under-relaxation is utilized. The LIMS height analyses were also latitudinally smoothed and constrained to obey the ellipticity criterion for spherical coordinates. The balanced winds are compared with geostrophically derived values and within situ radiosonde reports for 100 mb to 10 mb over Berlin.From a localized perspective, the Berlin-LIMS comparison indicates that radiosonde and balanced wind vectors exhibit somewhat closer agreement in direction than is associated with the geostrophic estimates. However, substantial quantitative differences between radiosonde, balanced, and geostrophic wind speeds are also evident, suggesting that caution should be exercised in the local application of derived winds, as for example in the quantitative interpretation of trajectories derived from satellite height analyses during periods of enhanced stratospheric wave activity.On a longitudinally averaged basis, balanced zonal-mean wind speeds are typically 20% weaker than geostrophic values in polar latitudes, and as much as 50% weaker in tropical and midlatitude regions. Meridional balanced wind velocities, at a given longitude, are generally within ±10% of geostrophic values. Although these alterations in horizontal wind components result in only modest differences between balanced and geostrophic meridional eddy heat fluxes, a more substantial change appears in the meridional eddy momentum flux analysis. The corresponding patterns of Eliassen-Palm flux divergence are found to be somewhat more (less) intense for the balanced wind case in the stratosphere (lower mesosphere) in polar latitudes.     

Global vorticity budget over the tropics and subtropics at 200-mb during northern hemisphere summer

The large-scale terms in the vorticity equation are evaluated usingKrishnamurti's (1971a, b) summer mean winds at 200 mb for a global belt from 25°S to 45°N. The production of vorticity by the divergent wind field is found to be imbalanced over all of the tropical and subtropical belt. As a result there is a requirement for a sub-grid scale (space or time) mechanism which removes negative vorticity from the regions of strong divergence (Tibetan and Mexican highlands) and removes positive vorticity from the regions of strong convergence (mid-oceanic troughs) at 200 mb during northern summer at a rate of approximately 4×10^–10 sec^–2. As suggested byHolton andColton (1972), in regions of strong and persistent convection, such as the Tibetan Plateau, deep cumulus clouds can account for this transport. However, the mechanism for removing positive vorticity in the vicinity of the upper tropospheric mid-oceanic troughs is still an intriguing and open question.On leave-of-absence at the National Science Foundation, Climate Dynamics Research Section.     

Estimation of surface roughness (z0) over a stabilizing coastal dune field based on vegetation and topography

Accurate knowledge of the surface roughness and the resultant wind speed are important for many applications, such as climatic models, wind power meteorology, agriculture and erosion hazards, especially on sand dunes in arid and semi‐arid environments, where vegetation cover is scarce. In this study we aimed at quantifying the effects of vegetation cover and topography on surface roughness over a stabilizing dune field on the southern coast of Israel. Forty‐six wind measurements were made at various distances from the coastline, ranging from 10 to 2800 m, and z₀ values were calculated from the wind measurements based on the ratio between the wind gust and the average wind speed. We estimated vegetation cover using the soil adjusted vegetation index (SAVI) from Landsat satellite images for the upwind sector at various lengths, ranging from 15 to 400 m, and based on digital elevation models and differential GPS field measurements we calculated the topographic variable of the relative heights of the stations. z₀ values were positively correlated with the winter SAVI values (r = 0·87 at an upwind length of 200 m) and negatively correlated with the relative height (r = ?0·68 at an upwind length of 200–400 m for the inland dune stations). Using these variables we were able to create a map of estimated z₀ values having an accuracy of over 64%. Such maps provide a better understanding of the spatial variability in both wind speed and sand movement over coastal dune areas. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A three‐dimensional numerical investigation of the idealized planetary boundary layer

Abstract

The nonlinear equations of motion are integrated numerically in time for a region of x‐y‐z space of volume 3h × h × h, where h turns out to be a height slightly above the level where the wind first attains the geostrophic flow direction. Only the ideal case is treated of a horizontal lower boundary, neutral stability, horizontal homogeneity of all dependent mean variables except the mean pressure, and statistically steady state. The resulting flow patterns are turbulent and the eddies transport required amounts of momentum vertically.

Topics which are investigated include the relative directions of stress, wind shear and wind; differences in Ekman wind spirals for the neutral numerical case and a stable atmospheric case; profiles of dimensionless turbulence statistics; effect of allowing the mean density to be either constant or to decrease with height; effect of the wind direction or latitude upon the turbulence intensities; and characteristic structure of the eddies in the planetary boundary layer.     

Quasi-Biennial and Quasi-Triennial Oscillations in some atmospheric parameters

A spectral analysis of the 12-month running averages of several atmospheric parameters for 40 years (1951–1990) indicated prominent QBO (Quasi-Biennial Oscillations) and QTO (Quasi-Triennial Oscillations). The 50 mb tropical wind has a very prominent QBO peak atT=2.33 years, which was well reflected in N. Pole 30 mb temperature but not in average surface air temperatures of Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The 50 mb wind had no prominent QTO; but sea-surface temperatures showed prominent QTO at 3.6 years as well as peaks at 4.8 years (also shown by N. Pole 30 mb temperature) which matched very well with similar peaks in the Pacific SST and SO (Southern Oscillation) index. Specific humidity in the lower troposphere (1000 and 700 mb) and temperature at 300 mb obtained by radiosondes in the western Pacific for 15 years (1974–1988) showed mainly a biennial oscillation.     

Estimation of long wave radiation by an empirical method

Summary Utilising two years data collected at two tropical coastal stations, Madras (13°04N, 80°15E) and Waltair (17°42N, 83°18E) and for one tropical continental station, Nagpur (21°09N, 79°07E), the authors have re-evaluated the constants ofBrunt's regression equation. Analyses of the observations for Waltair and Nagpur show good correlation coefficients (r) between the values of the effective emissivity of the atmosphere (the effective emissivity is the ratio of incoming long-wave sky radiation at the surfaceR _s , to black body radiation T ⁴) and the square root values of surface vapour pressuree (mb). The value ofr for Waltair from radiometer observations is 0.98. It is also determined for Waltair and Nagpur from Ångström compensation pyrgeometer observations as 0.83 and 0.91 respectively. A low correlation co-efficient 0.56 is obtained for Madras. It might be due to higher surface vapour pressure values at Madras than at Waltair and Nagpur. The applicability of the reduced regression equations are examined for different years for the different stations. The agreement between the computed values with the new regression equations and the observed long-wave sky radiation at the surface seems to be quite good.     

Statistical dynamics of internal gravity waves-turbulence

Abstract

Numerical simulations of internal gravity waves-turbulence are carried out for the inviscid, viscous and forced-dissipative two-dimensional primitive equations using the spectral method. Some of the results are compared with the predictions of the eddy damped quasi-normal Markovian (EDQNM) closure for internal waves of Carnevale and Frederiksen, generalized for periodic boundary conditions and possible random forcing and dissipation. The EDQNM reduces to the Boltzman equation of resonant interaction theory in the continuum space limit and as the forcing and dissipation vanish. However, the limit is singular in the sense that as well as conserving total energy, E, and total cross-correlation between the vorticity and buoyancy fields, C, an additional conservation law, viz. z-momentum, P_z , occurs in the limit. This means that the resonant interaction equilibrium (RIE) solution of the Boltzmann equation differs from the statistical mechanical equilibrium (SME) solution of the EDQNM closure.

The statistical stability of the SME and RIE spectra for the primitive equations is tested by integrating the inviscid equations using initial realizations of these spectra with random phases. It is found that E and C are accurately conserved while P_z undergoes large amplitude variations. The approach to equilibrium of initial disequilibrium spectra is monitored by examining the evolution of the entropy. The increase and asymptotic approach to a constant value corresponding to complete chaos is consistent with the behaviour predicted by the EDQNM closure.

For the viscous decay and forced-dissipative experiments, the behaviour of the entropy is also consistent with that predicted by the EDQNM closure. There is approximate equipartition of potential and total kinetic energies throughout the integrations from initial conditions having equal potential and total kinetic energies and as well equal vertical and horizontal energies, but as expected, the ratio of horizontal to vertical kinetic energy increases with time to a value greater than unity.

With Laplacian viscous dissipation and thermal diffusivity, the statistical steady states produced in the forced-dissipative experiments have k^?3 power laws for k≧7. A comparison with the power laws for kinetic energy and passive scalar variance produced in a numerical simulation of the two-dimensional passive scalar problem is also presented.     

A superposed epoch analysis of geomagnetic storms

A superposed epoch analysis of geomagnetic storms has been undertaken. The storms are categorised via their intensity (as defined by the Dst index). Storms have also been classified here as either storm sudden commencements (SSCs) or storm gradual commencements (SGCs, that is all storms which did not begin with a sudden commencement). The prevailing solar wind conditions defined by the parameters solar wind speed (v_sw), density (_sw) and pressure (P_sw) and the total field and the components of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) during the storms in each category have been investigated by a superposed epoch analysis. The southward component of the IMF, appears to be the controlling parameter for the generation of small SGCs (-100 nT< minimum Dst\leq-50 nT for\geq4 h), but for SSCs of the same intensity solar wind pressure is dominant. However, for large SSCs (minimum Dst\leq-100 nT for \geq4 h) the solar wind speed is the controlling parameter. It is also demonstrated that for larger storms magnetic activity is not solely driven by the accumulation of substorm activity, but substantial energy is directly input via the dayside. Furthermore, there is evidence that SSCs are caused by the passage of a coronal mass ejection, whereas SGCs result from the passage of a high speed/ slow speed coronal stream interface. Storms are also grouped by the sign of B_z during the first hour epoch after the onset. The sign of B_z at t=+1 h is the dominant sign of the B_z for \sim24 h before the onset. The total energy released during storms for which B_z was initially positive is, however, of the same order as for storms where B_z was initially negative.     

Evaluating morphological estimates of the aerodynamic roughness of debris covered glacier ice

Aerodynamic roughness length (z₀), the height above the ground surface at which the extrapolated horizontal wind velocity profile drops to zero, is one of the most poorly parameterised elements of the glacier surface energy balance equation. Microtopographic methods for estimating z₀ have become prominent in the literature in recent years, but are rarely validated against independent measures and are yet to be comprehensively analysed for scale or data resolution dependency. Here, we present the results of a field investigation conducted on the debris covered Khumbu Glacier during the post‐monsoon season of 2015. We focus on two sites. The first is characterised by gravels and cobbles supported by a fine sandy matrix. The second comprises cobbles and boulders separated by voids. Vertical profiles of wind speed recorded by a tower comprising five cup anemometers and deployed over both sites enable us to derive measurements of aerodynamic roughness that reflect their observed surface characteristics (0.0184 m and 0.0243 m, respectively). At the second site, z₀ also varied through time following snowfall (0.0055 m) and during its subsequent melt (0.0129 m), showing the importance of fine resolution topography for near‐surface airflow. To compare the wind profile data with microtopographic methods, we conducted structure from motion multi‐view stereo (SfM‐MVS) surveys across each patch and calculated z₀ using three previously published approaches. The fully three‐dimensional cloud‐based approach is shown to be most stable across different scales and these z₀ values are most correct in relative order when compared with the wind tower data. Popular profile‐based methods perform less well providing highly variable values across different scales and when using data of differing resolution. These findings hold relevance for all studies using microtopographic methods to estimate aerodynamic roughness lengths, including those in non‐glacial settings. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A note on multiple flow equilibria

A set of ordinary differential equations describing a mechanical system subject to forcing and dissipation is considered. A topological argument is employed to show that if all time-dependent solutions of the governing equations are bounded, the equations admitN steady solutions, whereN is a positive odd integer and where at least (N–1)/2 of the steady solutions are unstable. The results are discussed in the context of atmospheric flows, and it is shown that truncated forms of the quasigeostrophic equations of dynamic meteorology and of Budyko-Sellers climate models satisfy the hypotheses of the theorem.     

Morning polar substorms and variations in the atmospheric electric field

The effects of morning magnetospheric substorms in the variations in near-Earth atmospheric electricity according to the observations of the electric field vertical component (E _z ), at Hornsund polar observatory (Spitsbergen). The E _z, data, obtained under the conditions of fair weather (i.e., in the absence of a strong wind, precipitation, and fog), are analyzed. An analysis of the observations indicated that the development of a magnetospheric substorm in the Earth’s morning sector is as a rule accompanied by positive deviations in E _z, independently of the Hornsund location: in the polar cap or at its boundary. In all considered events, Hornsund was located near the center of the morning convection vortex. In the evening sector, when Hornsund fell in the region of evening convection vortex, the development of a geomagnetic substorm was accompanied by negative deviations in E _z., It has been concluded that the variations in the atmospheric electric field E _z), at polar latitudes, observed during the development of magnetospheric substorms, result from the penetration of electric fields of polar ionospheric convection (which are intensified during a substorm) to the Earth’s surface.     

利用卫星温度资料计算风场的方法分析与比较

本文分析和比较了利用卫星温度资料计算水平风场的方法,包括地转风、梯度风和平衡风的计算方法.以DAAC提供的MLS/UARS 1992年12月份的大气温度数据为例,计算了20～55 km高度范围的地转风、梯度风和平衡风,并与ECMWF提供的ERA-40再分析风场资料作了对比和分析,包括12月16日以及12月月平均风场随纬度-高度的变化、风场随经度-纬度的变化、纬圈平均风场随纬度-高度的变化特征和规律.计算结果表明,利用卫星温度观测数据计算的风场与再分析资料的特征和规律基本一致.计算的地转风在高纬地区比梯度风和平衡风大,在中低纬地区三者的差别较小,随着纬度的增大,曲率项的影响也逐渐增大,在高纬地区不可忽略.平衡风在梯度风的基础上还考虑了大气平流项的影响,能更好地反映风场的变化特征,尤其是高纬地区经向风的变化规律.利用平衡风场的计算结果,文章首次定量地计算了平衡方程中各项的大小和比值,分析了各项的贡献和相对重要性.结果表明,重力位势梯度项的贡献最大,并且随着纬度的增大有升高的趋势;曲率项的贡献随着纬度的增大也有增大的趋势,在高纬度地区的比值超过10%;平流项占有一定的比值,其变化范围相对较大,变化规律比较复杂.     

Finite element-fractional steps solution of the 3-D coastal circulation model

The mathematical model for the nearly horizontal circulation due to wind, tides and density gradients in 3-D coastal areas is solved by a combined use of the method of finite elements and the integration in fractional steps. The discretisation of the flow domain is achieved through a system of 1-D finite elements over the depth, z, and 2-D finite elements in x?y space. The differential operators of the momentum equations in x and y, are split and integrated separately in z and x?y dimensions. The method is an extension of a previously presented approach combining finite differences and expansion in series. The application refers to the wind induced circulation in the 3-D coastal basin of Thessaloniki Bay.     

Auroral E-region electron density gradients measured with EISCAT

In the theory of E-region plasma instabilities, the ambient electric field and electron density gradient are both included in the same dispersion relation as the key parameters that provide the energy for the generation and growth of electrostatic plasma waves. While there exist numerous measurements of ionospheric electric fields, there are very few measurements and limited knowledge about the ambient electron density gradients, N_e, in the E-region plasma. In this work, we took advantage of the EISCAT CP1 data base and studied statistically the vertical electron density gradient length, L_z = N_e/(dN_e/d_z), at auroral E-region heights during both eastward and westward electrojet conditions and different ambient electric field levels. Overall, the prevailing electron density gradients, with L_z ranging from 4 to 7 km, are found to be located below 100 km, but to move steadily up in altitude as the electric field level increases. The steepest density gradients, with L_z possibly less than 3 km, occur near 110 km mostly in the eastward electrojet during times of strong electric fields. The results and their implications are examined and discussed in the frame of the linear gradient drift instability theory. Finally, it would be interesting to test the implications of the present results with a vertical radar interferometer.     

Some airborne observations of condensation nucleus concentration

Summary The measurement of condensation nucleus concentration from an aircraft is considered and preliminary observations made with a photo-electric condensation nucleus counter discussed. It is concluded that at heights up to 6000 ft concentrations of condensation nuclei vary, from 200 cm^–3 in clean maritime air to 5 × 10³ cm^–3 generally over large industrial areas and 35 × 10³ cm^–3 downwind of specific industrial sources. It appears that sea spray makes a contribution to the nucleus population.Mr. G. J.Day, B. Sc., Meteorological Research Flight, Royal Aircraft Establishment,Farnborough, Hants. (Great Britain).     

Estimation of tropical cyclone parameters and wind fields from SAR images

The traditional method of Synthetic Aperture Radar(SAR)wind field retrieval is based on an empirical relation between the near surface winds and the normalized radar backscatter cross section to estimate wind speeds,where this relation is called the geophysical model function(GMF).However,the accuracy rapidly decreases due to the impact of rainfall on the measurement of SAR and the saturation of backscattered intensity under the condition of tropical cyclone.Because of no available instrument synchronously monitoring rain rate on the satellite platform of SAR,we have to derive the precipitation of the SAR observation time from non-simultaneous passive microwave observations of rain in combination with geostationary IR images,and then use the model of rain correction to remove the impact of rain on SAR wind field measurements.For the saturation of radar backscatter cross section in high wind speed conditions,we develop an approach to estimate tropical cyclone parameters and wind fields based on the improved Holland model and the SAR image features of tropical cyclone.To retrieve the low-to-moderate wind speed,the wind direction of tropical cyclone is estimated from the SAR image using wavelet analysis.And then the maximum wind speed and the central pressure of tropical cyclone are calculated by a least square minimization of the difference between the improved Holland model and the low-to-moderate wind speed retrieved from SAR.In addition,wind fields are estimated from the improved Holland model using the above-mentioned parameters of tropical cyclone as input.To evaluate the accuracy of our approach,the SAR images of typhoon Aere,typhoon Khanun,and hurricane Ophelia are used to estimate tropical cyclone parameters and wind fields,which are compared with the best track data and reanalyzed wind fields of the Joint Typhoon Warning Center(JTWC)and the Hurricane Research Division(HRD).The results indicate that the tropical cyclone center,maximum wind speed,and central pressure are generally consistent with the best track data,and wind fields agree well with reanalyzed data from HRD.     

Response of dayside auroras to abrupt increases in the solar wind dynamic pressure at positive and negative polarity of the IMF <Emphasis Type="Italic">B</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">z</Emphasis></Subscript> component

The optical observations on Heiss Island (Φ′ = 75.0°) have been used to study the characteristics of auroras in the near-noon MLT sector after abrupt increases in the solar wind dynamic pressure at negative and positive polarity of the IMF B _z component. It has been found out that the 427.8 and 557.7 nm emission intensities considerably increased at B _z < 0 both equatorward of the dayside red luminosity band and within this band. The value of the emission intensities at a red luminosity maximum (I ₆₃₀₀/I ₅₅₇₇ ∼ 0.5) indicates that energetic electron precipitation is of the magnetospheric origin. At B _z > 0, fluxes of harder (E > 1 keV) precipitating electrons were superimposed on the soft spectrum of precipitating particles in the equatorial part of the red luminosity band. This red band part was hypothetically caused by the low-latitude boundary layer (LLBL) on closed lines of the geomagnetic field, the estimated thickness of which is ∼3 R _e . The 557.7 nm emission intensity increased during 3–5 min after SC/SI and was accompanied by the displacement of the red band equatorward boundary toward lower latitudes. The displacement value was ∼150–200 km when the dynamic pressure abruptly increased by a factor of 3–5. After SC/SI, the 630.0 nm emission intensity continued increasing during 16–18 min. It is assumed that the time of an increase in the red line intensity corresponds to the time of saturation of the magnetospheric boundary layers with magnetosheath particles after an abrupt increase in their density.     

Properties of electric turbulence in the polar cap ionosphere

Small-scale (scales of ∼0.5–256 km) electric fields in the polar cap ionosphere are studied on the basis of measurements of the Dynamics Explorer 2 (DE-2) low-altitude satellite with a polar orbit. Nineteen DE-2 passes through the high-latitude ionosphere from the morning side to the evening side are considered when the IMF z component was southward. A rather extensive polar cap, which could be identified using the ɛ-t spectrograms of precipitating particles with auroral energies, was formed during the analyzed events. It is shown that the logarithmic diagrams (LDs), constructed using the discrete wavelet transform of electric fields in the polar cap, are power law (μ ∼ s ^α). Here, μ is the variance of the detail coefficients of the signal discrete wavelet transform, s is the wavelet scale, and index α characterizes the LD slope. The probability density functions P(δE, s) of the electric field fluctuations δE observed on different scales s are non-Gaussian and have intensified wings. When the probability density functions are renormalized, that is constructed of δE/s ^γ, where γ is the scaling exponent, they lie near a single curve, which indicates that the studied fields are statistically self-similar. In spite of the fact that the amplitude of electric fluctuations in the polar cap is much smaller than in the auroral zone, the quantitative characteristics of field scaling in the two regions are similar. Two possible causes of the observed turbulent structure of the electric field in the polar cap are considered: (1) the structure is transferred from the solar wind, which is known to have turbulent properties, and (2) the structure is generated by convection velocity shears in the region of open magnetic field lines. The detected dependence of the characteristic distribution of turbulent electric fields over the polar cap region on IMF B _y and the correlation of the rms amplitudes of δE fluctuations with IMF B _z and the solar wind transfer function (B _y ² + B _z ²)^1/2sin(θ/2), where θ is the angle between the geomagnetic field and IMF reconnecting on the dayside magnetopause when IMF B _z < 0, together with the absence of dependence on the IMF variability are arguments for the second mechanism.     

Atmospheric ozone and the movement of the air in the stratosphere

Using over 2200 ozonesonde ascents, published byHering andBorden [1]–[5] and byDütsch et al. [6], [7], the average vertical distribution of the ozone mixing ratio is found for different latitudes and for different seasons up to a height of 30 km. The method by which the ozone formed at great heights in low latitudes becomes concentrated in the lower stratosphere of high latitudes is discussed, and the meridional circulation theory is strongly suggested.Oxford, May 1972.     

Die Berechnung der Frontgeschwindigkeit in einem einachsig inhomogenen Körper aus seismischen Refraktionsmessungen

Zusammenfassung Es wird gezeigt wie man seismische Refraktionmessungen, unter der Voraussetzung, dass die zur Frontgeschwindigkeit c(z) inverse Funktion z=(c) schichtweise in eine Potenzreihe entwickelbar ist, direkt interpretieren kann. Abschliessend wird die neue Theorie mit der bekannten vonHerglotz-Wiechert undSlichter verglichen.

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Summary The theory of the interpretation of seis mic travel-time surfaces for refracted rays in parallel structures is treated in a new manner, under the assumption that the depth-velocity function of any bed can be expanded in a power serie.