Meridional localization of planetary waves in stochastic zonal flows

The effect of stochastic fluctuations in the zonal-mean velocity field on the energy dispersion of planetary stationary waves is considered, using the nondivergent, barotropic vorticity equation. It is found that for small noise levels, the oscillatory structure of the solutions is not altered. Howe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the atmospheric sciences 2001-04, Vol.58 (8), p.808-820
Main Authors: HUGH MONAHAN, Adam, PANDOLFO, Lionel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atmosphere
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
External geophysics
General circulation. Atmospheric waves
Gravity
Meteorology
Noise levels
Oceans
Tides
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:The effect of stochastic fluctuations in the zonal-mean velocity field on the energy dispersion of planetary stationary waves is considered, using the nondivergent, barotropic vorticity equation. It is found that for small noise levels, the oscillatory structure of the solutions is not altered. However, for noise levels comparable to or larger than those observed in the circulation at 500 mb, the marginal density functions of the solution process in the subpolar region cluster near zero. This indicates that fluctuations in the velocity field inhibit the poleward dispersion of stationary wave energy. This localization phenomenon appears whether the ensemble average of the mean zonal flow is superrotation or has a simple two-jet structure.
ISSN:0022-4928
1520-0469
DOI:10.1175/1520-0469(2001)058<0808:MLOPWI>2.0.CO;2