Rossby Waves on Non-zonal Flows: Vertical Focusing and Effect of the Current Stratification

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir G. Gnevyshev ◽  
Sergei I. Badulin ◽  
Aleksey V. Koldunov ◽  
Tatyana V. Belonenko
Keyword(s):  
Rossby Waves ◽  
Zonal Flows

Barotropic aspects of large-scale atmospheric turbulence

2020 ◽  
pp. 183-222
Author(s):  
Theodore G. Shepherd
Keyword(s):  
Atmospheric Turbulence ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Rossby Waves ◽  
Wave Turbulence ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Zonal Flows ◽  
Atmospheric General Circulation ◽  
Scale Turbulence ◽  
Inertia Gravity Waves

The chapter begins with a phenomenological treatment of the observed atmospheric circulation. It then goes on to discuss how the barotropic model arises as a so-calledbalanced model of the slow, vorticity-driven dynamics, from the more general shallowwater model which also admits inertia-gravity waves. This is important because large-scale atmospheric turbulence exhibits aspects of both balanced and unbalanced dynamics. Because of the first-order importance of zonal flows in the atmospheric general circulation, the large-scale turbulence is highly inhomogeneous, and is shaped by the nature of the interaction between zonal flows and Rossby waves described eloquently by Michael McIntyre as a wave-turbulence jigsaw puzzle. This motivates a review of the barotropic theory of wave, mean-flow interaction, which is underpinned by the Hamiltonian structure of geophysical fluid dynamics.

Semiannual Variability of Middepth Zonal Currents along 5°N in the Eastern Indian Ocean: Characteristics and Causes

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (10) ◽  
pp. 2715-2729 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ke Huang ◽  
Dongxiao Wang ◽  
Weiqing Han ◽  
Ming Feng ◽  
Gengxin Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Vertical Structure ◽  
Rossby Waves ◽  
Zonal Flow ◽  
Ocean Model ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Eastern Indian Ocean ◽  
Zonal Flows ◽  
Underlying Causes ◽  
Local Wind Forcing

AbstractFour-year (2014–17) zonal current data observed by a mooring at (5°N, 90.5°E) in the eastern Indian Ocean show a strong semiannual cycle in the middepth (~1200 m) with distinct vertical structure. This pronounced middepth semiannual variability, however, is inconsistent with the local wind forcing, which shows a predominant annual cycle. The underlying causes for this unique middepth variability along 5°N were elucidated with the addition of a reanalysis product and a continuously stratified linear ocean model. The results suggest that the observed seasonal variability in the middepth zonal flow at 5°N is primarily caused by boundary-reflected Rossby waves forced by the remote semiannual winds along the equator. Contribution from the locally wind-forced Rossby waves is much less. The theoretical Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin ray paths further verify that the strong semiannual variability of the middepth signals over a moored region in the eastern Indian Ocean is largely a manifestation of the steep angles of propagating energy of the long Rossby waves at semiannual time scale. The annual signals are only significant in the upper and western sections (75°–80°E) as a result of the smooth trajectories of Rossby waves forced by local annual winds. Further analysis reveals that the middepth zonal currents along 5°N are expected to be associated with equatorial symmetric Rossby waves at semiannual period. Consequently, similar zonal flows should also exist in the middepth near 5°S.

scholarly journals Generation of zonal flows by Rossby waves in the atmosphere

2004 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. G. Onishchenko ◽  
O. A. Pokhotelov ◽  
R. Z. Sagdeev ◽  
P. K. Shukla ◽  
L. Stenflo
Keyword(s):  
Rossby Waves ◽  
Propagation Speed ◽  
Present Theory ◽  
Finite Amplitude ◽  
Reynolds Stresses ◽  
Zonal Flows ◽  
Earth’S Atmosphere ◽  
Coupled Equations ◽  
Spatial Dimensions ◽  
Earth's Atmosphere

Abstract. A novel mechanism for the short-scale Rossby waves interacting with long-scale zonal flows in the Earth's atmosphere is studied. The model is based on the parametric excitation of convective cells by finite amplitude Rossby waves. We use a set of coupled equations describing the nonlinear interaction of Rossby waves and zonal flows which admits the excitation of zonal flows. The generation of such flows is due to the Reynolds stresses of the finite amplitude Rossby waves. It is found that the wave vector of the fastest growing mode is perpendicular to that of the pump Rossby wave. We calculate the maximum instability growth rate and deduce the optimal spatial dimensions of the zonal flows as well as their azimuthal propagation speed. A comparison with previous results is made. The present theory can be used for the interpretation of existing observations of Rossby type waves in the Earth's atmosphere.

On generation of zonal flows by interacting Rossby waves

Tellus ◽  
1977 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 306-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
ARTHUR Z. LOESCH
Keyword(s):  
Rossby Waves ◽  
Zonal Flows

The propagation of atmospheric Rossby gravity waves in latitudinally sheared zonal flows

1977 ◽  
Vol 287 (1340) ◽  
pp. 115-143 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Gravity Waves ◽  
Rossby Waves ◽  
Zonal Flow ◽  
Flow Speed ◽  
Wave Number ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Zonal Flows ◽  
Planetary Scale ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Critical Latitude

Using the B-plane approximation we formulate the equations which govern small perturbations in a rotating atmosphere and describe a wide class of possible wave motions, in the presence of a background zonal flow, ranging from ‘moderately high’ frequency acoustic-gravity-inertial waves to ‘low’ frequency planetary-scale (Rossby) waves. The discussion concentrates mainly on the propagation properties of Rossby waves in various types of latitudinally sheared zonal flows which occur at different heights and seasons in the earth’s atmosphere. However, it is first shown that gravity waves in a latitudinally sheared zonal flow exhibit critical latitude behaviour where the ‘intrinsic ’ wave frequency matches the Brunt-Vaisala frequency (in contrast to the case of gravity waves in a vertically sheared flow where a critical layer exists where the horizontal wave phase speed equals the flow speed) and that the wave behaviour near such a latitude is similar to that of Rossby waves in the vicinity of their critical latitudes which occur where the ‘intrinsic’ wave frequency approaches zero. In the absence of zonal flow in the atmosphere the geometry of the planetary wave dispersion equation (which is described by a highly elongated ellipsoid in wave-number vector space) implies that energy propagates almost parallel to the /--planes. This feature may provide a reason why there seems to be so little coupling between planetary scale motions in the lower and upper atmosphere. Planetary waves can be made to propagate eastward, as well as westward, if they are evanescent in the vertical direction. The W.K.B. approximation, which provides an approximate description of wave propagation in slowly varying zonal wind shears, shows that the distortion of the wave-number surface caused by the zonal flow controls the dependence of the wave amplitude on the zonal flow speed. In particular it follows that Rossby waves propagating into regions of strengthening westerlies are intensified in amplitude whereas those waves propagating into strengthening easterlies are diminished in amplitude. A classification of the various types of ray trajectories that arise in zonal flow profiles occurring in the Earth’s atmosphere, such as jet-like variations of westerly or easterly zonal flow or a belt of westerlies bounded by a belt of easterlies, is given, and provides the conditions giving rise to such phenomena as critical latitude behaviour and wave trapping. In a westerly flow there is a tendency for the combined effects on wave propagation of jet-like variations of B and zonal flow speed to counteract each other, whereas in an easterly flow such variations tend to reinforce each other. An examination of the reflexion and refraction of Rossby waves at a sharp jump in the zonal flow speed shows that under certain conditions wave amplification, or over-reflexion, can arise with the implication that the reflected wave can extract energy from the background streaming motion. On the other hand the wave behaviour near critical latitudes, which can be described in terms of a discontinuous jump in the ‘wave invariant’, shows that such latitudes can act as either wave absorbers (in which case the mean flow is accelerated there) or wave emitters (in which case the mean flow is decelerated there).

Rossby-wave driven zonal flows in the ionospheric E-layer

2007 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. D. KALADZE ◽  
D. J. WU ◽  
O. A. POKHOTELOV ◽  
R. Z. SAGDEEV ◽  
L. STENFLO ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Rossby Waves ◽  
Maximum Growth ◽  
Present Theory ◽  
Finite Amplitude ◽  
Maximum Growth Rate ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Reynolds Stresses ◽  
Zonal Flows ◽  
Coupled Equations

Abstract.A novel mechanism for the generation of large-scale zonal flows by small-scale Rossby waves in the Earth's ionospheric E-layer is considered. The generation mechanism is based on the parametric excitation of convective cells by finite amplitude magnetized Rossby waves. To describe this process a generalized Charney equation containing both vector and scalar (Korteweg–de Vries type) nonlinearities is used. The magnetized Rossby waves are supposed to have arbitrary wavelengths (as compared with the Rossby radius). A set of coupled equations describing the nonlinear interaction of magnetized Rossby waves and zonal flows is obtained. The generation of zonal flows is due to the Reynolds stresses produced by finite amplitude magnetized Rossby waves. It is found that the wave vector of the fastest growing mode is perpendicular to that of the magnetized Rossby pump wave. Explicit expression for the maximum growth rate as well as for the optimal spatial dimensions of the zonal flows are obtained. A comparison with existing results is carried out. The present theory can be used for the interpretation of the observations of Rossby-type waves in the Earth's ionosphere.

Generation of zonal flows by Rossby waves

2003 ◽  
Vol 307 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 154-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.K. Shukla ◽  
L. Stenflo
Keyword(s):  
Rossby Waves ◽  
Zonal Flows

scholarly journals On generation of zonal flows by interacting Rossby waves

Tellus ◽  
1977 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 306-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur Z. Loesch
Keyword(s):  
Rossby Waves ◽  
Zonal Flows
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document