Publication Date:
2015-11-19
Description:
An idealized baroclinic instability case is simulated using a ~ 10 km resolution global model to investigate the characteristics of gravity waves (GWs) generated in the baroclinic life cycle. Three groups of GWs (W1–W3) appear around the high-latitude surface trough at the mature stage of the baroclinic wave. They have horizontal and vertical wavelengths of 40–400 and 2.9–9.8 km, respectively, in the upper troposphere. The two-dimensional phase-velocity spectrum of the waves is arc-shaped with a peak at 17 m s−1 eastward, which is difficult for the waves to propagate upward through the tropospheric westerly jet. At the breaking stage of the baroclinic wave, a midlatitude surface low is isolated from the higher-latitude trough, and two groups of quasi-stationary GWs (W4 and W5) appear near the surface low. These waves have horizontal and vertical wavelengths of 60–400 and 4.9–14 km, respectively, and are able to propagate vertically for long distances. The generation mechanism of the simulated GWs is discussed.
Electronic ISSN:
1680-7375
Topics:
Geosciences