scholarly journals Constraints on Wave Drag Parameterization Schemes for Simulating the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation. Part I: Gravity Wave Forcing

2005 ◽  
Vol 62 (12) ◽  
pp. 4178-4195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy J. Campbell ◽  
Theodore G. Shepherd
Keyword(s):  
Gravity Wave ◽  
Zonal Wind ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Wave Drag ◽  
Planetary Waves ◽  
Vertical Diffusion ◽  
Quasi Biennial Oscillation ◽  
Parameterization Schemes ◽  
Downward Propagation ◽  
Biennial Oscillation

Abstract Parameterization schemes for the drag due to atmospheric gravity waves are discussed and compared in the context of a simple one-dimensional model of the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO). A number of fundamental issues are examined in detail, with the goal of providing a better understanding of the mechanism by which gravity wave drag can produce an equatorial zonal wind oscillation. The gravity wave–driven QBOs are compared with those obtained from a parameterization of equatorial planetary waves. In all gravity wave cases, it is seen that the inclusion of vertical diffusion is crucial for the descent of the shear zones and the development of the QBO. An important difference between the schemes for the two types of waves is that in the case of equatorial planetary waves, vertical diffusion is needed only at the lowest levels, while for the gravity wave drag schemes it must be included at all levels. The question of whether there is downward propagation of influence in the simulated QBOs is addressed. In the gravity wave drag schemes, the evolution of the wind at a given level depends on the wind above, as well as on the wind below. This is in contrast to the parameterization for the equatorial planetary waves in which there is downward propagation of phase only. The stability of a zero-wind initial state is examined, and it is determined that a small perturbation to such a state will amplify with time to the extent that a zonal wind oscillation is permitted.

scholarly journals Climatology and Forcing of the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation in the MAECHAM5 Model

2006 ◽  
Vol 19 (16) ◽  
pp. 3882-3901 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Giorgetta ◽  
E. Manzini ◽  
E. Roeckner ◽  
M. Esch ◽  
L. Bengtsson
Keyword(s):  
Gravity Wave ◽  
Zonal Wind ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
General Circulation Models ◽  
Wave Drag ◽  
Quasi Biennial Oscillation ◽  
Biennial Oscillation

Abstract The quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) in the equatorial zonal wind is an outstanding phenomenon of the atmosphere. The QBO is driven by a broad spectrum of waves excited in the tropical troposphere and modulates transport and mixing of chemical compounds in the whole middle atmosphere. Therefore, the simulation of the QBO in general circulation models and chemistry climate models is an important issue. Here, aspects of the climatology and forcing of a spontaneously occurring QBO in a middle-atmosphere model are evaluated, and its influence on the climate and variability of the tropical middle atmosphere is investigated. Westerly and easterly phases are considered separately, and 40-yr ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA-40) data are used as a reference where appropriate. It is found that the simulated QBO is realistic in many details. Resolved large-scale waves are particularly important for the westerly phase, while parameterized gravity wave drag is more important for the easterly phase. Advective zonal wind tendencies are important for asymmetries between westerly and easterly phases, as found for the suppression of the easterly phase downward propagation. The simulation of the QBO improves the tropical upwelling and the atmospheric tape recorder compared to a model without a QBO. The semiannual oscillation is simulated realistically only if the QBO is represented. In sensitivity tests, it is found that the simulated QBO is strongly sensitive to changes in the gravity wave sources. The sensitivity to the tested range of horizontal resolutions is small. The stratospheric vertical resolution must be better than 1 km to simulate a realistic QBO.

scholarly journals Constraints on Wave Drag Parameterization Schemes for Simulating the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation. Part II: Combined Effects of Gravity Waves and Equatorial Planetary Waves

2005 ◽  
Vol 62 (12) ◽  
pp. 4196-4205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy J. Campbell ◽  
Theodore G. Shepherd
Keyword(s):  
Gravity Wave ◽  
Gravity Waves ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Planetary Wave ◽  
General Circulation Models ◽  
Wave Drag ◽  
Planetary Waves ◽  
Small Contribution ◽  
Quasi Biennial Oscillation ◽  
Biennial Oscillation

Abstract This study examines the effect of combining equatorial planetary wave drag and gravity wave drag in a one-dimensional zonal mean model of the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO). Several different combinations of planetary wave and gravity wave drag schemes are considered in the investigations, with the aim being to assess which aspects of the different schemes affect the nature of the modeled QBO. Results show that it is possible to generate a realistic-looking QBO with various combinations of drag from the two types of waves, but there are some constraints on the wave input spectra and amplitudes. For example, if the phase speeds of the gravity waves in the input spectrum are large relative to those of the equatorial planetary waves, critical level absorption of the equatorial planetary waves may occur. The resulting mean-wind oscillation, in that case, is driven almost exclusively by the gravity wave drag, with only a small contribution from the planetary waves at low levels. With an appropriate choice of wave input parameters, it is possible to obtain a QBO with a realistic period and to which both types of waves contribute. This is the regime in which the terrestrial QBO appears to reside. There may also be constraints on the initial strength of the wind shear, and these are similar to the constraints that apply when gravity wave drag is used without any planetary wave drag. In recent years, it has been observed that, in order to simulate the QBO accurately, general circulation models require parameterized gravity wave drag, in addition to the drag from resolved planetary-scale waves, and that even if the planetary wave amplitudes are incorrect, the gravity wave drag can be adjusted to compensate. This study provides a basis for knowing that such a compensation is possible.

scholarly journals The Seasonal Cycle of Gravity Wave Drag in the Middle Atmosphere

2008 ◽  
Vol 21 (18) ◽  
pp. 4664-4679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Pulido ◽  
John Thuburn
Keyword(s):  
Gravity Wave ◽  
Seasonal Cycle ◽  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Wave Drag ◽  
Smooth Transition ◽  
Quasi Biennial Oscillation ◽  
Summer Hemisphere ◽  
Jet Streaks ◽  
Biennial Oscillation

Abstract Using a variational technique, middle atmosphere gravity wave drag (GWD) is estimated from Met Office middle atmosphere analyses for the year 2002. The technique employs an adjoint model of a middle atmosphere dynamical model to minimize a cost function that measures the differences between the model state and observations. The control variables are solely the horizontal components of GWD; therefore, the minimization determines the optimal estimate of the drag. For each month, Met Office analyses are taken as the initial condition for the first day of the month, and also as observations for each successive day. In this way a three-dimensional GWD field is obtained for the entire year with a temporal resolution of 1 day. GWD shows a pronounced seasonal cycle. During solstices, there are deceleration regions of the polar jet centered at about 63° latitude in the winter hemisphere, with a peak of 49 m s−1 day−1 at 0.24 hPa in the Southern Hemisphere; the summer hemisphere also shows a deceleration region but much weaker, with a peak of 24 m s−1 day−1 centered at 45° latitude and 0.6 hPa. During equinoxes GWD is weak and exhibits a smooth transition between the winter and summer situation. The height and latitude of the deceleration center in both winter and summer hemispheres appear to be constant. Important longitudinal dependencies in GWD are found that are related to planetary wave activity; GWD intensifies in the exit region of jet streaks. In the lower tropical stratosphere, the estimated GWD shows a westward GWD descending together with the westward phase of the quasi-biennial oscillation. Above, GWD exhibits a semiannual pattern that is approximately out of phase with the semiannual oscillation in the zonal wind. Furthermore, a descending GWD pattern is found at those heights, similar in magnitude and sign to that in the lower stratosphere.

scholarly journals Structure and Dynamics of the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation in MERRA-2

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (14) ◽  
pp. 5339-5354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence Coy ◽  
Krzysztof Wargan ◽  
Andrea M. Molod ◽  
William R. McCarty ◽  
Steven Pawson
Keyword(s):  
Meridional Circulation ◽  
Wave Drag ◽  
Quasi Biennial Oscillation ◽  
Zonal Winds ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Mean Meridional Circulation ◽  
Downward Propagation ◽  
Phase Amplitude ◽  
Modern Era ◽  
Biennial Oscillation

Abstract The structure, dynamics, and ozone signal of the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) produced by the 35-yr NASA Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2 (MERRA-2), are examined based on monthly mean output. Along with the analysis of the QBO in assimilation winds and ozone, the QBO forcings created by assimilated observations, dynamics, parameterized gravity wave drag (GWD), and ozone chemistry parameterization are examined and compared with the original MERRA system. Results show that MERRA-2 produces a realistic QBO in the zonal winds, mean meridional circulation, and ozone over the 1980–2015 time period. In particular, the MERRA-2 zonal winds show improved representation of the QBO 50-hPa westerly phase amplitude at Singapore when compared to MERRA. The use of limb ozone observations creates improved vertical structure and realistic downward propagation of the ozone QBO signal during times when the MLS ozone limb observations are available (from October 2004 to present). The increased equatorial GWD in MERRA-2 has reduced the zonal wind data analysis contribution compared to MERRA so that the QBO mean meridional circulation can be expected to be more physically forced and therefore more physically consistent. This can be important for applications in which MERRA-2 winds are used to drive transport experiments.

Importance of gravity wave forcing for springtime southern polar vortex breakdown as revealed by ERA5

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aman Gupta ◽  
Thomas Birner ◽  
Andreas Doernbrack ◽  
Inna Polichtchouk
Keyword(s):  
Gravity Wave ◽  
Gravity Waves ◽  
Zonal Wind ◽  
Planetary Wave ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Vortex Breakdown ◽  
Polar Vortex ◽  
Wave Drag ◽  
Planetary Waves ◽  
The Mean

<p>Planetary waves and gravity waves are the key drivers of middle atmospheric circulation and variability. While planetary waves are well resolved in climate models, inaccuracies in representation of gravity waves in climate models persist. Inaccuracies in representation of gravity waves limit our understanding of the planetary wave-gravity wave interactions that can be crucial during the Antarctic polar vortex breakdown. Moreover, "missing" gravity wave drag around 60<sup>o</sup>S in the upper stratosphere is considered to be responsible for the "cold-pole" bias in comprehensive climate models that employ parameterizations to appproximately represent the gravity wave drag.</p><p>We illustrate the strength of the high-resolution ERA-5 reanalysis in resolving a broad spectrum of gravity waves in southern hemisphere midlatitudes and to estimate their contribution to the momentum budget around 60<sup>o</sup>S. We find that most of the resolved mountain waves excited over the Andes and Antarctic peninsula propagate away from their source and deposit momentum around 60<sup>o</sup>S over the Southern Ocean. Further, a composite analysis around 60<sup>o</sup>S during the vortex breakdown period using ERA-5 reveals considerably large fractional contribution of resolved + parameterized GWD towards the vortex deceleration. Upto 30 days prior to the breakdown, a balance between the Coriolis acceleration and the planetary wave deceleration provides a weak net deceleration of the mean winds, following which, they provide a net acceleration of the mean winds. The gravity waves, however, provide a steady deceleration of the mean winds throughout the breakdown period. The resolved drag in ERA-5 accounts for as much as one-fourth of the zonal wind deceleration at 60<sup>o</sup>S and 10 hPa, while the parameterized drag in ERA-5 accounts for more than one-half of the zonal wind deceleration.  The findings establish the crucial role of gravity waves in wintertime stratospheric circulation and opens avenues for further stratospheric gravity wave analysis using ERA-5.</p>

scholarly journals Generation of a Quasi-Biennial Oscillation in an NWP Model Using a Stochastic Gravity Wave Drag Parameterization

2015 ◽  
Vol 143 (6) ◽  
pp. 2121-2147 ◽  
Author(s):  
John P. McCormack ◽  
Stephen D. Eckermann ◽  
Timothy F. Hogan
Keyword(s):  
Gravity Wave ◽  
Time Scales ◽  
Weather Prediction ◽  
Wave Drag ◽  
Significant Response ◽  
Quasi Biennial Oscillation ◽  
Westerly Flow ◽  
Nwp Model ◽  
Biennial Oscillation ◽  
Stochastic Gravity

Abstract Many operational numerical weather prediction (NWP) systems now extend into the stratosphere and are beginning to be used to generate forecasts beyond conventional 5–10-day periods out to seasonal time scales. Past observational and modeling studies have shown that the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) in equatorial stratospheric winds can play an important role in stratosphere–troposphere dynamical coupling over these longer time scales. Consequently, stratosphere-resolving NWP models used to generate seasonal forecasts should contain the necessary physics to generate and maintain the QBO. This study describes several key modifications that were necessary to produce a QBO in a high-altitude NWP model, which include an increase in model vertical resolution, implementation of a computationally efficient stochastic gravity wave drag parameterization, and reductions in the amount of horizontal and vertical diffusion in the stratosphere. Results from a 10-yr free-running model simulation with these modifications show that the westerly QBO phase produces lower temperatures and stronger westerly flow in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) winter polar stratosphere compared to the easterly QBO phase. Ensembles of 120-day simulations over the December–March period show that these modifications replace persistent easterly flow in the equatorial lower stratosphere with a more realistic transition from easterly to westerly flow. The resulting changes in planetary wave propagation produce a statistically significant response in the dynamics of the NH extratropical stratosphere consistent with the Holton–Tan relationship. The westerly shift in equatorial winds also produces a significant response in the NH extratropical troposphere, where the sea level pressure differences in winter resemble the positive phase of the northern annular mode.

scholarly journals Future Changes in the Ozone Quasi-Biennial Oscillation with Increasing GHGs and Ozone Recovery in CCMI Simulations

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (17) ◽  
pp. 6977-6997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroaki Naoe ◽  
Makoto Deushi ◽  
Kohei Yoshida ◽  
Kiyotaka Shibata
Keyword(s):  
Zonal Wind ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Vertical Shear ◽  
Quasi Biennial Oscillation ◽  
The Past ◽  
Meteorological Research Institute ◽  
Climate Simulations ◽  
The Future ◽  
Ozone Depleting Substances ◽  
Biennial Oscillation

The future quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) in ozone in the equatorial stratosphere is examined by analyzing transient climate simulations due to increasing greenhouse gases (GHGs) and decreasing ozone-depleting substances under the auspices of the Chemistry–Climate Model Initiative. The future (1960–2100) and historical (1979–2010) simulations are conducted with the Meteorological Research Institute Earth System Model. Three climate periods, 1960–85 (past), 1990–2020 (present), and 2040–70 (future) are selected, corresponding to the periods before, during, and after ozone depletion. The future ozone QBO is characterized by increases in amplitude by 15%–30% at 5–10 hPa and decreases by 20%–30% at 40 hPa, compared with the past and present climates; the future and present ozone QBOs increase in amplitude by up to 60% at 70 hPa, compared with the past climate. The increased amplitude at 5–10 hPa suggests that the temperature-dependent photochemistry plays an important role in the enhanced future ozone QBO. The weakening of vertical shear in the zonal wind QBO is responsible for the decreased amplitude at 40 hPa in the future ozone QBO. An interesting finding is that the weakened zonal wind QBO in the lowermost tropical stratosphere is accompanied by amplified QBOs in ozone, vertical velocity, and temperature. Further study is needed to elucidate the causality of amplification about the ozone and temperature QBOs under climate change in conditions of zonal wind QBO weakening.

scholarly journals Quasi-Biennial Oscillation in Stratospheric Zonal Wind and Indian Summer Monsoon

1985 ◽  
Vol 113 (8) ◽  
pp. 1421-1424 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. K. Mukherjee ◽  
K. Indira ◽  
R. S. Reddy ◽  
Bh V. Ramana Murty
Keyword(s):  
Summer Monsoon ◽  
Indian Summer Monsoon ◽  
Zonal Wind ◽  
Quasi Biennial Oscillation ◽  
Biennial Oscillation

The Influence of the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation on the Troposphere in Winter in a Hierarchy of Models. Part I: Simplified Dry GCMs

2011 ◽  
Vol 68 (6) ◽  
pp. 1273-1289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chaim I. Garfinkel ◽  
Dennis L. Hartmann
Keyword(s):  
Zonal Wind ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Polar Vortex ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Quasi Biennial Oscillation ◽  
Stratospheric Polar Vortex ◽  
The North ◽  
Subtropical Jet ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Biennial Oscillation

Abstract A dry primitive equation model is used to explain how the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) of the tropical stratosphere can influence the troposphere, even in the absence of tropical convection anomalies and a variable stratospheric polar vortex. QBO momentum anomalies induce a meridional circulation to maintain thermal wind balance. This circulation includes zonal wind anomalies that extend from the equatorial stratosphere into the subtropical troposphere. In the presence of extratropical eddies, the zonal wind anomalies are intensified and extend downward to the surface. The tropospheric response differs qualitatively between integrations in which the subtropical jet is strong and integrations in which the subtropical jet is weak. While fluctuation–dissipation theory provides a guide to predicting the response in some cases, significant nonlinearity in others, particularly those designed to model the midwinter subtropical jet of the North Pacific, prevents its universal application. When the extratropical circulation is made zonally asymmetric, the response to the QBO is greatest in the exit region of the subtropical jet. The dry model is able to simulate much of the Northern Hemisphere wintertime tropospheric response to the QBO observed in reanalysis datasets and in long time integrations of the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM).

scholarly journals Observational evidences of the influences of tropospheric subtropical and midlatitude stratospheric westerly jets on the equatorial stratospheric intraseasonal oscillations

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Karthick Kumar Reddy ◽  
T. K. Ramkumar ◽  
S. Venkatramana Reddy
Keyword(s):  
Zonal Wind ◽  
Lower Atmosphere ◽  
Theoretical Modelling ◽  
Quasi Biennial Oscillation ◽  
Medium Range Weather Forecast ◽  
Westerly Jet ◽  
Longitudinal Sector ◽  
Vertical Propagation ◽  
Biennial Oscillation ◽  
Subtropical Westerly Jet

Abstract. Using six Global Positioning System (GPS) Radio Occultation (RO) satellites (SAC-C, METOP-A and COSMIC/FORMOSAT-3, CNOFS, GRACE and TerraSAR-X) determined height profiles (1–40 km) of atmospheric temperature over the Indian tropical station of Gadanki and the European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) Interim Reanalyses (ERA-Interim) zonal wind and temperature data for four years (2009–2012), the present work reports that the tropospheric Subtropical Westerly Jet (SWJ) and the Midlatitude Stratospheric Westerly Jet (MStWJ) play important roles in controlling differently the vertical propagation of tropical Intra Seasonal Oscillations (ISO) with different period bands from the troposphere up to the stratosphere during Northern winters. In the months of December–May (Northern winter to summer, NWTS) of all these years, there is significant 10–20 day and 20–40 day oscillations in the troposphere up to the height of 13 km and above this it reappears at all heights above 21 km. The 40–80 day oscillation also shows similar characteristics except that it almost disappeared during NWTS months of the year 2010–2011 in the stratosphere. The absence of these signals in the intervening heights of ~ 17–20 km is explained on the basis that these two bands actually propagate from the tropical to subtropical region near the tropopause and then reappears in the tropical stratosphere after refracted by the subtropical westerly jet. The poleward and equatorward propagation of these bands in the troposphere and stratosphere respectively are found using the ERA-interim data. Further the two longer period bands of ISO show strong quasi-biennial oscillation in the lower atmosphere with opposite phases (when one band shows maximum the other one shows minimum in a particular year) between these two bands. It is also observed that the phase of the tropical stratospheric Quasi Biennial Oscillation (QBO) has significant control on the strength of the Mid latitude stratospheric westerly jet (MStWJ) that in turn controls the refraction of the tropical tropospheric longer (40–80 days, Longer period ISO; LISO) but not the smaller periods of ISO (SISO) back to the tropical stratosphere. In accordance with earlier theoretical modelling studies, the westerly phase of the lower stratospheric QBO occurred during NWTS months of 2010–2011 over the Indian longitudinal sector causes severe disruption of the MStWJ at 30 km height. This disruption caused the prevention of refraction back again to the tropical stratosphere of significant tropospheric LISO that arrived from the tropics through the tropopause. Further, in these four years, it is observed no direct vertical propagation of tropical tropospheric ISO to the stratosphere. The interannual variations in the tropical stratospheric LISO are related strongly to the phase of the equatorial lower stratospheric QBO in zonal wind and the strength of the MStWJ.

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