ALBERT

Description: 〈span class="paragraphSection"〉〈div class="boxTitle"〉Summary〈/div〉Convection in Earth's core is a viable mechanism for generating MAC waves when the top of the core is stably stratified. We quantify the generation mechanism by extending the physical description of MAC waves to include a source term due to buoyancy forces in the convecting part of the core. Solutions for the forced motion are obtained using a Green's function, which is constructed from the eigenfunctions for the unforced motion. When the source term is evaluated using the output of a numerical geodynamo model, the largest excitation occurs at even spherical harmonic degrees, corresponding to waves with symmetric azimuthal flow about the equator. We also find that the magnitude of the source term decreases at periods shorter than about 60 yr. As a result most of the wave generation is confined to waves with periods of 60 yr or longer. Quantitative predictions for the wave amplitudes depend on the projection of the source term into the eigenfunction of the waves. Strong stratification limits the penetration of density anomalies into the stratified layer, which means that the source term is confined to the lowermost part of the layer. Overtones of MAC waves with large amplitudes in the lower part of the stratified layer are more effectively generated by convection, even though these waves are heavily damped by magnetic diffusion. Generation of MAC waves by convection establishes a physical link between observable wave motion and deeper convective processes. Detection of changes in the amplitude and phase of MAC waves would constrain the generation processes and offer insights into the nature of the convection.〈/span〉

Description: Context. Atmospheric superrotating flows at the equator are a nearly ubiquitous result when conducting simulations of hot Jupiters. One theory explaining how this zonally-coherent flow reaches equilibrium has already been developed in the literature. This understanding, however, relies on the existence of either an initial superrotating flow or a sheared flow, coupled with a slow evolution that permits a linear steady state to be reached. Aims. A consistent physical understanding of superrotation is needed for arbitrary drag and radiative timescales, along with the relevance of taking linear steady states into account, needs to be assessed. Methods. We obtained an analytical expression for the structure, frequency, and decay rate of propagating waves in hot Jupiter atmospheres around a state at rest in the 2D shallow-water β-plane limit. We solved this expression numerically and confirmed the robustness of our results with a 3D linear wave algorithm. We then compared it with 3D simulations of hot Jupiter atmospheres and studied the nonlinear momentum fluxes. Results. We show that under strong day-night heating, the dynamics do not transit through a linear steady state when starting from an initial atmosphere in solid body rotation. We further demonstrate that nonlinear effects favor the initial spin-up of superrotation and that acceleration due to the vertical component of the eddy-momentum flux is critical to the initial development of superrotation. Conclusions. We describe the initial phases of the acceleration of superrotation, including the consideration of differing radiative and drag timescales, and we conclude that eddy-momentum-driven superrotating equatorial jets are robust, physical phenomena in simulations of hot Jupiter atmospheres.