Numerical modeling of the atmosphere with an isentropic vertical coordinate

A theta-coordinate model simulating the nonlinear evolution of a baroclinic wave is presented. In the model, vertical discretization maintains important integral constraints such as conservation of the angular momentum and total energy. A massless-layer approach is used in the treatment of the inter...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Monthly weather review 1990-10, Vol.118 (10), p.1933-1959
Main Authors: Hsu, Yueh-Jiuan G., Arakawa, Akio
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
External geophysics
General circulation. Atmospheric waves
Meteorology
Meteorology And Climatology
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:A theta-coordinate model simulating the nonlinear evolution of a baroclinic wave is presented. In the model, vertical discretization maintains important integral constraints such as conservation of the angular momentum and total energy. A massless-layer approach is used in the treatment of the intersections of coordinate surfaces with the lower boundary. This formally eliminates the intersection problem, but raises other computational problems. Horizontal discretization of the continuity and momentum equations in the model are designed to overcome these problems. Selected results from a 10-day integration with the 25-layer, beta-plane version of the model are presented. It is concluded that the model can simulate the nonlinear evolution of a baroclinic wave and associated dynamical processes without major computational difficulties.
ISSN:0027-0644
1520-0493
DOI:10.1175/1520-0493(1990)118<1933:NMOTAW>2.0.CO;2