A numerical experiment of cyclogenesis and the development of disturbances

A numerical experiment has been carried out to study the mechanism of cyclogenesis and the develop-ment of disturbances. First, an idealized field of temperature and pressure is designed, which is very similar to the actual synoptic situation, consisting of the jet-like zonal circulation with some nonzonal waves superim-posed on it. Prediction is made by using a six-level splitting primitive model with the idealized field as an initial one. The results show that if a disturbance like a frontal zone in the lower troposphere is superim-posed on the zonal circulation, a frontal cyclone will quickly develop and then gradually become an oc-cluded one. Its life cycle is similar to that of the actual frontal cyclone on the synoptic map. However, if there is a disturbance superimposed on the zonal circulation in the middle troposphere, the cyclone with weaker intensity will be slowly formed near the surface. Finally, if the initial disturbance is located at the high-level, a situation like a cut-off low rather than a frontal cyclone will develop.     

Wave-Mean Flow Interaction: the Role of Continuous-Spectrum Disturbances

Traditionally, “eddy feeds zonal flow” in the atmosphere is considered as a result of decaying unstable waves. We show that disturbances made of non-modal solutions-the continuous-spectrum disturbances-can also effectively transport zonal angular momentum and interact with the zonal basic flow. These disturbances, though stable, eventually decay, losing their energy to strengthen the westerly jets in the atmosphere.Calculations with observational data illustrate that the atmospheric zonal flow is maintained primarily by continuous-spectrum disturbances rather than by unstable waves. Angular momentum transport by continuous-spectrum disturbances is one order of magnitude larger than that by all kinds of normal modes (referred as discrete-spectrum disturbances) including unstable waves.     

Stationary Rossby wave propagation in a shear flow along a reflective boundary

Summary This study investigates the impact of lateral boundary conditions on the propagation and dispersion of locally excited Rossby waves in a zonally periodic, barotropic, quasigeostrophic channel model on the β-plane. We use basic flows with either a linear meridional shear or a jet-like profile. On the southern boundary of the channel we impose either a rigid wall or a radiation condition, whereas the northern sidewall is permeable for Rossby waves. We compare the numerical solutions found for a reflecting southern boundary in a weakly dissipative flow to the solutions obtained from a WKB-analysis for the corresponding unforced nondissipative situation. Furthermore, we compare the generalized Eliassen-Palm flux vectors to the ray paths of Rossby wave packets, obtained from WKB ray tracing. In particular, we focus our investigation on the two-dimensional structure of trapped modal waves and wavetrains in a simple linear numerical model. Summarizing our results, we find that along the reflective wall, trapped modal wave structures as well as reflected wavetrains occur with characteristics (e.g., wavenumbers, turning latitudes) similar to the ones computed using asymptotic methods. In a linear sheared flow wave packets are trapped for all zonal wave numbers in contrast to a jet-like mean flow which has a selective effect on the waves; i.e., a turning latitudes phenomenon between the coast and the flow maximum occurs for short waves, while long waves can propagate freely across the zonal mean flow. This comes out clearly when studying the stream lines of the Eliassen-Palm flux vectors of the numerical model simulations. Furthermore, due to the reflected wave activity, the dispersion of Rossby waves is influenced by the southern boundary condition not only in the vicinity of the border but also in regions away from the boundary. These results appear to be important on the one hand for the existence of trapped Rossby waves in large-scale oceanic shear flows along a zonally oriented coast. And, on the other hand for large-scale boundary waves in conceptional atmospheric channel models which can lead to unwanted resonance effects. Received July 18, 2000/Revised June 9, 2001     

Discrete Spectra and Continuous Spectrum of the Barotropic Quasi-Geostrophic Model-A Calculation of Meteorological Data

l.Intr0ducti0nMaintenance,developmentanddecay0fmiddlelatitudeatmosphericdisturbancesarecentraltotheunderstandingofsynopticweatherprocessesandshort-termclimatevariability.FrontogenesisandsurgeofcoldwavesaretypicallyassociatedwithrapiddevelopmentoffavorablyconfiguredsmalldisturbancesintheuppertroPOsphere.Thesedisturbancesfurtheractasinteractivetransientforcingtocauselowfrequencyvariabilities.Theyalsoaffectthein-tensityofwesterliesandtheequator-to-P0letemPeraturegradientoftheatmosphere.Studieso…     

The Propagation of Disturbances Excited by Low-Frequency Oscillations in the Tropics

The propagation of disturbances excited by low-frequency oscillations in the tropics is investigated by applying the theory of wave packet dynamics. For simplicity, a linearized barotropic model is adopted and the zonal circulation is taken as basic current. Suppose that the disturbances or waves are superimposed on jet-like westerly basic cur-rent and excited by the forcing in the tropics. We have (1) only the eastward propagating (m>0, n>0 and σ>0) low-frequency disturbances and the stationary (σ = 0) waves can propagate into the middle and high latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere; the others, such as the westward propagating low-frequency wave (m>0, n<0, σ<0) and the high-frequency waves, are restricted only in the vicinity of source region; (2) a stationary wave (σ = 0) reaches a given latitude even more quickly than some low-frequency ones (σ>0) due to the fact that the group velocity of stationary wave is larger; (3) there is a whole wave train excited by the forcing in the tropics and extended into the middle and high latitudes, if the amplitude of the source is independent on time, especially, the low-frequency wave (σ > 0) is of travelling type propagating along the ray; (4) if the source lasts only for an interval of time, namely, its amplitude also has the character of low-frequency oscillation, the excited wave train is not always a whole one, but is restricted in the vicinity of source region in the beginning, extended from the source region to the middle and high latitudes in its saturated stage, after that it gradually becomes weaker and weaker and is detectable only in some area at high latitude, and eventually disappears. Undoubtedly, case (4) is closer to the reality, even though case (3) gives a more impressive wavy pattern.     

The birth and evolution of an eastward propagating air-sea coupled disturbance in an aqua-planet

Summary The birth and evolution of an air-sea coupled disturbance relevant to the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events is investigated using a simple coupled aqua-planet model composed of the Gill's moist atmosphere and the Anderson-McCreary ocean. A coherent air-sea coupled disturbance with the zonal wavenumber 1 emerges from different initial disturbances either in the atmosphere or the ocean and propagates eastward as observed in the 1982/83 event. In the case of an initial westerly wind burst, oceanic Kelvin waves generated by the winds cause weak but long-lasting ocean temporature anomalies which trigger the air-sea coupled disturbance. When the initial disturbance is in the oceanic mixedlayer temperature, the coupled disturbance is excited more easily because the oceanic relaxation time is long compared to the atmospheric one. This is consistent with the result that the coupled disturbance collapses when the disturbance is forced to vanish on the oceanic side rather than on the atmospheric side.With 8 Figures     

Blocking distributions in the atmosphere

The zonal momentum generation in forced stationary waves may exceed the requirement for momentum balance after long, if the waves do not change their patterns, This suggests that the changes in stationary wave patterns would be required by maintenance of momentum balance over the external forcings. It will be found that the low frequency anomalies like blocking regimes may produce reversed zonal momentum variations, if they happen in the observed centre areas. The zonal momentum balance in the stationary waves may be maintained effectively by alternation between the normal and blocking circulation regimes, Thus, from the point of long-term zonal momentum balance, we may explain the geographical distributions of the blocking centres and the seasonal variations in blocking areas and frequencies.     

Roles of Multi-Scale Disturbances over the Tropical North Pacific in the Turnabout of 1997-98 El Nino

The space-time features of major vorticity disturbances over the western North Pacific during the 1997-98 El Nino ranked as one of the strongest events on record was investigated in this study. We distinguished the different roles that these disturbances had on different timescales in causing the reversal or turnabout of the El Nino event. Remarkable differences in the various disturbances of synoptic, intraseasonal, and interannual timescales were found in the time evolution, propagation, and in their contributions to the changes in nearequatorial zonal flow, which was crucial to the demise of the warm sea surface temperature anomalies in the central-eastern Pacific. It is hypothesized that the westward-traveling synoptic and intraseasonal oscillations in the western North Pacific might be considered as a self-provided negative feedback from the El Nino and played an additional role in its reversal in comparison with other interannual internal and external forcings. In this case, the off-equatorial synoptic and intraseaonal fluctuations served as a stochastic forcing for the tropical ocean and gave rise to the aperiodicity or irregularity of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation.     

Signature of quasi–biennial oscillation and long-period equatorial disturbances in the lower atmosphere over Thiruvananthapuram

Summary An attempt has been made in this paper to examine different modes of oscillation in the wind field during different seasons over Thiruvananthapuram (lat. 8.29° N, long. 76.59° E, located at the extreme southwest coast of India) based on daily upper air observations for the period from January 1997 to December 1999. A power spectral analysis is carried out with the upper air data of the station. The study shows that one and half cycle of Quasi–Biennial Oscillation (QBO) and the power spectra of the meridional wind component exhibit peaks between the period of four days and seven days (corresponding frequency range between 0.25 day⁻¹ and 0.15 day⁻¹) during all seasons. The seasonal variation of these large-scale oscillations over the station depends upon the background mean zonal flow, which in turn closely related to the QBO structure. The time sequence of power spectra shows that the disturbances with periods between four days and seven days dominantly prevail in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere throughout the year. The regimes of high power spectral intensity in this period range are maintained in the levels where the mean zonal flow (westerly or easterly) weakens and changes with height. The study establishes the fact that disturbances (mixed Rossby-gravity waves) acquire maximum power in the winter season whereas the south-west monsoon exhibits minimum spectral intensity when spreading of energy over a frequency range takes place.     

A mechanism for formation of the western North Pacific monsoon trough: nonlinear upscale cascade

Linear and nonlinear barotropic vorticity model frameworks are constructed to understand the formation of the monsoon trough in boreal summer over the western North Pacific. The governing equation is written with respect to specified zonal background flows, and a wave perturbation is prescribed in the eastern boundary. Whereas a uniform background mean flow leads no scale contraction, a confluent background zonal flow causes the contraction of zonal wavelength. Under linear dynamics, the wave contraction leads to the development of smaller scale vorticity perturbations. As a result, there is no upscale cascade. Under nonlinear dynamics, cyclonic (anticyclonic) wave disturbances shift northward (southward) away from the central latitude due to the vorticity segregation process. The merging of small-scale cyclonic and anticyclonic perturbations finally leads to the generation of a pair of large-scale cyclonic and anti-cyclonic vorticity gyres, straddling across the central latitude. The large-scale cyclonic circulation due to nonlinear upscale cascade can be further strengthened through a positive convection-circulation feedback.

     

夏季纬向平均气流变动的主要模态及其与AO和ENSO的联系

使用NCEP-NCAR月平均再分析资料,研究了夏季纬向平均气流变动的主要模态及其与北极涛动(AO)和ENSO的联系,探讨了夏季[u]主要模态维持的可能机制。结果表明,北半球夏季纬向平均[u]的异常分布表现为两个主要模态。EOF1反映了与AO相对应的纬向平均[u]的分布,EOF2反映了与ENSO相对应的纬向平均[u]的分布。周期分析显示了EOF1、EOF2分别具有与AO及ENSO相似的周期。滞后相关分析表明,除了夏季之外的其他季节EOF1与ENSO存在显著相关,而EOF2与AO亦存在显著相关。夏季,EOF1与ENSO、EOF2与AO的同期相关量值小且不显著。这些说明,北半球夏季纬向平均气流变化的主要模态可以有效分离,其分别代表了AO和ENSO有关的信号。这对于更好地理解AO和ENSO的全球影响具有重要意义。利用准地转无加速定理,发现EOF1和EOF2对应的时间系数高低值年的E-P通量散度的合成差值场分别与纬向平均[u]的EOF1、EOF2分布表现出很好的对应关系,其中行星波对纬向平均气流主要模态的维持起着主要作用。余差环流与E-P通量散度分布型相似,量值相当,但符号相反。在一些地区,大气涡动的摩擦耗散也起着一定的作用。这些平衡了波动的能量输送作用,使纬向平均[u]的结构得以维持。     

南半球冷空气入侵与热带气旋的形成

文中采用NCAR/PSU研制的非静力中尺度模式MM 5 ,研究了南半球冷空气入侵在热带气旋形成中的作用。初始场为纬向平均场 ,不含任何扰动 ,但为热带气旋的发生提供了基本条件 ;通过改变设在赤道的南边界条件 ,设计系列数值试验反映南半球不同强度冷空气的入侵。数值试验结果表明 :南半球冷空气侵袭后 ,在菲律宾以东洋面上形成热带气旋 ;没有冷空气入侵时 ,只有扰动产生 ,没有热带气旋形成。在对流不稳定的背景场中 ,即使没有冷空气入侵 ,低层小尺度辐合引起强上升运动 ,产生的非绝热加热 ,在热带洋面上也能形成扰动。但是非绝热加热使得稳定度增加 ,没有低层强辐合的支持 ,对流不能持续 ,扰动不能发展成为热带气旋。南半球冷空气的入侵 ,一方面气温降低 ,使得中低层层结稳定度降低 ;另一方面 ,冷空气形成向北的气压梯度 ,在低纬度产生南风 ,导致低层强辐合。稳定度因子和低层辐合的共同作用 ,驱动深厚的垂直环流 ,产生十分显著的非绝热加热 ,形成了暖心的热带气旋。上述研究结果一定程度上肯定了存有疑义的冷空气学说     

高空急流区内纬向基本气流加速与EP通量的关系

采用多时间尺度方法, 并假设纬向基本气流是正压的, 在不引入剩余环流的情况下, 推导出纬向基本气流局地变化与一种新形式Eliassen-Palm通量之间的关系, 这种Eliassen-Palm通量关系在形式上比较简单, 而且物理意义明确, 适合诊断分析高空急流区内纬向基本气流的加速与减速.理论分析表明, 正压纬向基本气流的局地变化由新形式Eliassen-Palm通量散度决定.作者利用该Eliassen-Palm通量关系对2002年12月一次寒潮过程中200 hPa等压面上纬向基本气流的发展演变进行了诊断分析.诊断结果表明, 在200 hPa纬向基本气流急流区内, 新形式Eliassen-Palm通量散度是影响纬向基本气流发展演变的重要因子, 并且纬向基本气流的加速与减速主要是由新形式Eliassen-Palm通量中扰动动量的经向输送造成的.     

Comparative energetics analysis of CCM2 with different horizontal resolutions

 Comprehensive global energetics analysis is carried out for the NCAR CCM2 with different horizontal resolutions of R15, T42, T63, and T106 to assess the effect of various model truncations on the global energetics characteristics in climate models. Both the energy levels and energy transformations are examined over the zonal wave number domain during a northern winter and summer. In addition to the simulated atmosphere, the ECMWF global analysis during 1986 to 1990 is analyzed for comparison using the same diagnostic scheme. Previous studies have revealed that zonal kinetic energy is supplied by synoptic disturbances in terms of the zonal-wave interactions of kinetic energy. According to our result, however, such an energy flow from eddies to zonal motions is valid only for zonal wave numbers up to about 30. We find that the zonal-wave interactions of kinetic energy change sign beyond wave number 30 where the energy is transformed from zonal to eddies for both the ECMWF and CCM2-T106. The large-scale zonal motions are diffusive against the short waves beyond wave number 30, which may well be parameterized by various forms of the diffusion schemes. We suggest from this result that the atmospheric disturbances with wave numbers lower than 30 are necessary to represent accurately the two-way interactions between zonal and eddy motions, because these waves can actively influence the behavior of the zonal motions. Based on this finding, we suggest that the model resolution of R15 is inadequate for climate studies from the energetics point of view, and that resolution of T42 is the minimum requirement to represent the general circulation adequately. Some other discrepancies are discussed in detail for the coarse resolution climate models. Received: 15 July 1996/Accepted: 3 January 1997     

Evolution of large scale disturbances and their interaction with mean flow in a rotating barotropic atmosphere—Part II

In part I of this paper, we have discussed two problems: the general properties of two-dimensional baro-tropic motion and the evolution and structure of both Rossby wave packet and inertio-gravity wave packet. In this part, we shall continue our discussion. Third, normal modes and continuous spectra of both quasi-geostrophic and non-geostrophic models, their different behaviour, and the comparison of normal mode approach to the wave packet approach. Fourth, weakly nonlinear theory of interaction based on the analysis of eddy transports. A nonzonal basic flow as well as non-geostroptaic model is also included in the consideration. The last, the fully nonlinear theory, making emphasis on the conditions for the maintenance of nonzonal disturbances and the conditions for their continuous and complete absorption by the zonal flow. A comparison of Rossby wave absorption to energy cascade in the two-dimensional turbulence is also given.     

索马里低空急流的数值模拟

本文首先将5°×5°P—σ五层原始方程粗网格模式改进为2.5°×2.5°的细网格模式,进而设计了粗细网格的嵌套模式。用嵌套模式对索马里低空急流进行了数值模拟,其结果表明:模式的水平分辨率对急流的模拟效果影响很大,模拟的急流轴上最大风速为13米/秒,与急流实际强度较为接近。 我们用六月纬向平均风场作初值,进行了10天的数值积分。根据风速的时间变化将急流的演变分为形成、加强及维持三个阶段,对急流各个阶段的流场及结构特征作了详细讨论。索马里沿岸低空气流由南向北越赤道气流的上空500百帕和300百帕层正好相反,气流由北向南穿越赤道。还通过控制性试验讨论了索马里低空急流向北发展的情况。      

NUMERICAL STUDY OF THE SHORT-TERM CLIMATIC OSCILLATION FORCED BY EL NINO DURING NORTHERN WINTER

Using a nine-layer global spectral model, numerical schemes with two different SST distributions in January(control case and abnormal case) have been tested to study the climatic effect, propagation charateristics and the maintenance mechanism of the short-term climatic oscillation caused by El Nino during northern winter. The main results are as follows:(1) During northern winter, there exist two wave trains because of the influence of El Nino. One is similar to PNA pattern, and the other is similar to EUP pattern.(2) The PNA-like wave train caused by the anomalous SST forcing in central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean is due to the response of ultralong wave and long wave components of Rossby mode, and the EUP-like wave traincrossing Eurasia is mainly due to the wave component of Rossby mode.(3) During northern winter, the warm water region in central equatorial Pacific Ocean is the source of forced wave trains.(4) In northern winter,the energy source for maintaining the short-term climatic oscillation is from the interaction between eddies, and between eddy and zonal flow.     

热带对流层低频振荡过程的能量学初步分析

本文利用线性化的能量方程和交叉谱方法分别研究了准两周振荡和准40天振荡的能量来源及其转换过程。发现:在热带对流层中,对于低频振荡过程来说,来自中高纬度的侧向强迫作用和水汽凝结的加热作用是非常重要的,为扰动的产生和维持提供了重要能源。而正、斜压不稳定作用对扰动发展的作用是极小的。并且指出,在东亚热带对流层上部,准两周振荡通过与平均气流的相互作用为基本气流提供许多能量,对于维持这里的高空东风急流有重要作用。准40天振荡向平流层输送能量,对平流层平均环流的演变可能有重要贡献。