Solitary Rossby waves over variable relief and their stability. Part I: The analytical theory

Nonlinear permanent form solutions have been found for the barotropic, quasi-geostrophic divergenceless vorticity equation describing large scale, rotating flows over zonal relief. In the linear limit these solutions are topographic Rossby waves. The analytical procedure is an expansion in two small dimensionless parameters, an amplitude parameter (the Rossby number) and the aspect ratio between North-South (cross-relief) and East-West length scales. Permanent form solutions exist when these two parameters, and the related effects of dispersion and nonlinearity, mutually balance. By the same expansion procedure, an analytical linearized stability theory has been formulated which proves the neutral stability of these solutions to infinitesimal, two-dimensional perturbations.     

Nonlinear waves in barotropic model

In this paper, from the system of equation describing a barotropic atmosphere using the method of Taylor expansion for the nonlinear terms, the periodic solutions of the nonlinear inertio-surface gravity waves and Rossby waves have been obtained.The finite-amplitude nonlinear inertio-surface gravity waves and Rossby waves with horizontal divergence satisfy all the KdV equation. The solutions are all the cnoidal function, i, e, the cnoidal waves which in-clude the linear waves and form the solitary waves under certain conditions. For the finite-amplitude Rossby waves with horizontal divergence, we find the new dispersive relation including both the wave number and the amplitude parameter. In case of small amplitude it is reduced to the Yeh formula. It is shown that the larger the amplitude and width, the faster the finite-amplitude inertio-surface gravity waves and the slower the finite-amplitude Rossby waves with horizontal divergence propagate. The blocking or cut-off system in which the amplitude and width are large may be considered as Rossby solitary waves.     

A numerical method for solving the evolution equation of solitary Rossby waves on a weak shear

In this paper an evolution equation in integral-differential form for finite amplitude Rossby waves on a weak shear is presented and an efficient method for its numerical solution is set up. It is shown that a propa-gation of solitary wave is possible whenever a proper weak shear in basic flows acts with the nonlinear effects and dispersion of the media, both in the atmosphere and in the ocean. To test the numerical method for solving the evolution equation, a series of experiments are carried out. The results indicate that the solitary solutions do exist and interact with each other in quite a succinct, manner. Therefore the method is successful and efficient for solving initial value problems of the above equation. The time decoupling problem arising in the numerical scheme and the related filtering technique are discussed. A variety of interesting phenomena such as the interaction of solitary Rossby waves, damping, dispersion and the development of nonlinear wave train are numerically studied.     

Vortex Rossby waves on smooth circular vortices: Part I. Theory

A complete theory of the linear initial-value problem for Rossby waves on a class of smooth circular vortices in both f-plane and polar-region geometries is presented in the limit of small and large Rossby deformation radius. Although restricted to the interior region of barotropically stable circular vortices possessing a single extrema in tangential wind, the theory covers all azimuthal wavenumbers. The non-dimensional evolution equation for perturbation potential vorticity is shown to depend on only one parameter, G, involving the azimuthal wavenumber, the basic state radial potential vorticity gradient, the interior deformation radius, and the interior Rossby number.In Hankel transform space the problem admits a Schrödinger’s equation formulation which permits a qualitative and quantitative discussion of the interaction between vortex Rossby wave disturbances and the mean vortex. New conservation laws are developed which give exact time-evolving bounds for disturbance kinetic energy. Using results from the theory of Lie groups a nontrivial separation of variables can be achieved to obtain an exact solution for asymmetric balanced disturbances covering a wide range of geophysical vortex applications including tropical cyclone, polar vortex, and cyclone/anticyclone interiors in barotropic dynamics. The expansion for square summable potential vorticity comprises a discrete basis of radially propagating sheared vortex Rossby wave packets with nontrivial transient behavior. The solution representation is new, and for this class of swirling flows gives deeper physical insight into the dynamics of perturbed vortex interiors than the more traditional approach of Laplace transform or continuous-spectrum normal-mode representations. In general, initial disturbances are shown to excite two regions of wave activity. At the extrema of these barotropically stable vortices and for a certain range of wavenumbers, the Rossby wave dynamics are shown to become nonlinear for all initial conditions. Extensions of the theory are proposed.     

纬向气流对地形Rossby波的影响

本文在半地转近似下,采用相平面方法讨论了纬向基本气流对线性和非线性地形Rossby波的稳定性及解的性质的影响。结果指出:线性和非线性稳定性判据形式一样,纬向气流及其切变对稳定性有明显影响;在非线性近似下,可形成孤立波槽和孤立波脊。     

Rossby similarity and turbulent formulations

The structure of the Planetary Boundary Layer in the stationary case is investigated. The dynamic equations are written in an universal form deduced from Rossby Similarity. Then the system is closed using two semi-empirical formulations for the turbulent fluxes (Prandtl's formulation and the turbulent energy scheme) with a mixing-length chosen to be compatible with Rossby Similarity. For each formulation the system is solved using a new numerical procedure to compute universal profiles of wind and also the Similarity functions A and B in terms of stability. These profiles and functions are then compared to experimental data and good agreement is obtained. Investigating simpler formulations, it appears that good results are obtained with a simple two-layer model, patching a diabatic Ekman spiral with surface-layer profiles. Its formulation is analytical and it can incorporate constant baroclinicity.     

一个自组织气候模型

本文选择全球平均地表温度#AT#a和全球平均云量#An#a为状态变量。通过对气候系统中物理过程的研究与在气候意义上的合理近似，得到行星反照率α和大气有效发射率ε与状态变量的参数化关系，它们给出了气候系统内部几个重要的反馈过程。利用这些结果，建立起一个云和辐射相互作用的零维的非线性气候模型。在Hopf分支点附近，得到极限环的解析解，它们同数值解吻合得相当好，由解析解得到振幅，周期和位相差与太阳常数和CO2的近似关系，依此可估计它们在气候振荡中的作用，尤其，我们发现CO2的增加除有增温效应外，还能使气候振荡的振幅增加，这个结果意味着CO2的增加可能导致自然灾害周期性地出现或加剧。     

Solitary waves of two-layer quasi-geostrophic flow and analytical solutions with scalar nonlinearity

In this paper we investigate the instability of two-layer quasi-geostrophic model with scalar nonlinearity, which is a geophysical fluid dynamics model, and give a nonlinear stability criterion. Furthermore, the analytical solutions of the two-layer quasi-geostrophic model are obtained via the Jacobi elliptic periodic function transform method and symbolic computation. It is efficient in solving a range classes of nonlinear partial differential equations for this method. The result shows that the structure of Rossby waves is influenced by many factors such as base flow and scalar nonlinearity.     

Vortex Rossby waves on smooth circular vortices: Part II. Idealized numerical experiments for tropical cyclone and polar vortex interiors

Idealized linear and nonlinear numerical experiments are carried out to test the predictions of the theory developed in Brunet and Montgomery [Vortex Rossby Waves on Smooth Circular Vortices Part I: Theory (pages 153–177, this issue)]. For a monopolar tropical cyclone-like vortex whose strength lies between a tropical depression and tropical storm, linear theory remains uniformly valid in time in the vortex core for all azimuthal wavenumbers. Examples elucidate aspects of the vortex Rossby wave/merger spin up mechanism proposed previously. For the case of the polar vortex, however, wavenumber 1 disturbances in the continuous spectrum are predicted to develop a nonlinear evolution for realistic polar-night stratospheric-jet configurations and wave breaking is demonstrated to occur within the dynamics of the continuous spectrum.     

Optimization of Upstream Profiles in Modelled Flow Over Complex Terrain

This paper describes an adjoint method for data assimilation intoupstream boundary conditions of numerical modelsusing optimal control theory. Mathematical formalisms are given along with the numerical implementation of the schemein a column model of the atmospheric boundary layer. The optimized mean and turbulence profiles are used as an upstream solutionin a model of turbulent flow in complex terrain. To contrast thiswith other methods, two solutions for flow over an isolatedhill are calculated, one with an optimized upstream solution andone with a simple surface-layer formulation for the upstream solution.These two solutions are compared to observations and analytical theory. The adjoint optimization method is shown to producesolutions of flow in complex terrain that are substantively differentat the two solutions, with the optimized solution giving more accurate results.     

层结大气中非线性椭圆余弦波和孤立波的研究

在前文采用半地转近似和行波法来研究层结大气中的非线性波动的基础上,进一步探讨非线性方程及其级数近似方程的解的稳定性,波动解的存在条件和波动的一些特征。研究指出,在平衡点附近,将非线性方程用其级数近似方程代替是可行的、合理的。在初始拟能满足一定的条件下,椭圆余弦波和孤立波是存在的。文中还求得了椭圆余弦波解的周期、ｘ向波长和振幅以及孤立波的宽度和振幅。并指出,孤立波的宽度和振幅不但与波速有关,还与β因子和层结稳定度有关,而且在相同的某条件下,西行的混合Ｒｏｓｓｂｙ－重力孤立波比起东行的惯性重力孤立波来,宽度要小但振幅却大。     

On the instability of a planetary boundary layer with Rossby-number similarity

The formation of longitudinal vortex rolls in the planetary boundary layer (PBL) is investigated by means of perturbation analysis. The method is the same as that used by previous authors who have investigated the instability of a laminar Ekman layer. To study the instability of the turbulent boundary layer of the atmosphere, vertical profiles are needed of the eddy viscosity and of the two components of the basic flow. These profiles have been obtained by a numerical PBL-model; they are universal for zz ₀. (However, the stability equations are not completely universal, i.e., independent of the external parameters). For each thermal stratification, expressed by the internal stratification parameter , one has a set of three consistent profiles.The numerical solution of the stability equations gives the critical values and the perturbation growth rates as functions of thermal stratification and of the surface Rossby number Ro₀. This is in contrast to the case of a laminar Ekman layer, where the instability depends on a Reynolds number only, which makes atmospheric applications difficult. The most unstable perturbations are found for Ro₀ = 1 × 10⁶ approximately, which is in the range of surface Rossby numbers observed in the atmosphere. However, considering vortex rolls oriented in the direction of the surface stress, the instability is found to be universal, i.e., independent of the external parameters combined in the surface Rossby number. With respect to thermal stratification, the results show that the instability of the perturbations increases with increasing static stability.     

On stochastic stability of regional ocean models to finite-amplitude perturbations of initial conditions

We consider error propagation near an unstable equilibrium state (classified as an unstable focus) for spatially uncorrelated and correlated finite-amplitude initial perturbations using short- (up to several weeks) and intermediate (up to 2 months) range forecast ensembles produced by a barotropic regional ocean model. An ensemble of initial perturbations is generated by the Latin Hypercube design strategy, and its optimal size is estimated through the Kullback–Liebler distance (the relative entropy). Although the ocean model is simple, the prediction error (PE) demonstrates non-trivial behavior similar to that existing in 3D ocean circulation models. In particular, in the limit of zero horizontal viscosity, the PE at first decays with time for all scales due to dissipation caused by non-linear bottom friction, and then grows faster than (quasi)-exponentially. Statistics of a prediction time scale (the irreversible predictability time (IPT)) quickly depart from Gaussian (the linear predictability regime) and becomes Weibullian (the non-linear predictability regime) as amplitude of initial perturbations grows. A transition from linear to non-linear predictability is clearly detected by the specific behavior of IPT variance. A new analytical formula for the model predictability horizon is introduced and applied to estimate the limit of predictability for the ocean model.     

The effects of zonal flow on nonlinear Rossby waves

In this paper, we using phase plane method have derived the stability criteria of linear and nonlinear Rossby waves under the conditions of semi-geostrophic approximation and have gotten the solutions and geostrophic vorticity of corresponding solitary Rossby waves. It is pointed out that the wave stability is connected with the distri-bution of zonal flow and when the zonal flow is different the solitary wave trough or ridge is formed.     

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。     

Nonlinear three- wave interaction among barotropic rossby waves in a large- scale forced barotropic flow

In this paper, the coupling equations describing nonlinear three-wave interaction among Rossby waves including the forcing of an external vorticity source are obtained. Under certain conditions, the coupling equations with a constant amplitude forcing, the stability analysis indi-cates that when the amplitude of the external forcing increases to a certain extent, a pitchfork bifurcation occurs. Also, it is shown from numerical results that the bifurcation can lead to chaotic behavior of “strange” attractor. For the obtained three-variable equation, when the amplitude of modulated external forcing gradually increases, a period-doubling bifurcation is found to lead to chaotic behavior. Thus, in a nonlinear three-wave coupling model in the large-scale forced barotropic atmospheric flow, chaotic behavior can be observed. This chaotic behavior can explain in part 30-60-day low-frequency oscillations observed in mid-high latitudes.     

Equatorial solitary waves Part 4. Kelvin solitons in a shear flow

It is shown that a mean flow with shear makes the Kelvin wave dispersive. This in turn modifies its nonlinear behavior and makes it necessary to replace the one-dimensional advection equation derived in an earlier work of the author's by the Korteweg-deVries equation instead. The frontogenesis predicted in the earlier paper will still occur, but the wave breaking will not. Instead, once a steep front has formed, it will disintegrate into a train of solitary waves. These then propagate towards the east at a faster-than-linear rate. It is also shown that Kelvin solitary waves will have much smaller zonal widths than Rossby solitons of the same height; “round” Kelvin solitary waves (equal zonal and latitudinal width) are to be expected, and are fully consistent with the small amplitude, weak dispersion theory. An interesting implication of the Korteweg-deVries model is that the peak signal from a nonlinear Kelvin wave packet may be roughly double that of a linear Kelvin wavetrain.     

On the nonlinear dynamics of the boundary layer of intense atmospheric vortex

The paper describes a stationary model of the boundary layer of a large-scale vortex. The model takes into account two types of nonlinearities: (1) advection of the momentum and centrifugal accelerations, that is related to large values of the Rossby number; (2) a nonlinear turbulent friction on the lower boundary (generally speaking, not only quadratic, but also more complicated). Nevertheless, the model may be studied analytically. This approach allows discovery and analysis of several universal regularities, which are not revealed by numerical modeling. The model provides the actual values for the speed of the surface wind and the angle of cross-isobar surface flow in the tropical cyclones.     

The algebraic decay of equatorial Rossby waves in a shear flow

Through numerical integration, we show that equatorial Rossby waves, like their midlatitude counterparts, decay algebraically in the limit t → ∞ in a linear shear flow. For small times, the growth expected for some components does not translate into any growth of the wave disturbance as a whole when the initial conditions has a broad Fourier spectrum. The conclusion is that Rossby waves will amplify with time only when the mean flow has an inflection point or when the initial eddy field is strongly concentrated in long waves tilted against the shear.     

线性和非线性地形罗斯贝波

本文在半地转概念下,讨论了线性和非线性地形罗斯贝波的稳定性及其解。指出:线性和非线性稳定性判据形式一致。在线性时,地形东西向及南北向坡度对稳定波动的周期和传播速度有明显影响,其解为周期函数;在不稳定时,解为非周期函数。二级近似时其解为孤立波形式——不稳定时,在地形不同位置可形成东移或西移的孤立波槽或孤立波脊;而在稳定时只形成孤立波槽。三级近似时解出现间断点。