Mathematics – Logic
Scientific paper
Dec 1985
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1985icsu...18r....f&link_type=abstract
In International Council of Scientific Unions Handbook for MAP, Vol. 18 6 p (SEE N86-27719 18-46)
Mathematics
Logic
Heating, Isentropic Processes, Latitude, Nonlinearity, Northern Hemisphere, Planetary Waves, Polar Regions, Stratosphere, Stratospheric Warming, Vorticity, Winter, Advection, Canada, Meteorological Satellites
Scientific paper
In the winter stratosphere of the Northern Hemisphere, the disruption of the westerly vortex and associated warming of polar latitudes is a well known phenomenon. It has become apparent that some important dynamical processes in the stratosphere are highly nonlinear and are best thought of locally rather than in terms of the interaction between the zonal-mean flow and harmonic waves around latitude circles. The importance of nonlinear processes was suggested by McIntyre and Palmer (1983, 1984) who used isentropic maps of Ertel's Potential Vorticity to show that during disturbed episodes material lines may become strongly and irreversibly deformed in certain places. They adopted the term planetary wave breaking to describe this process. Isentropic maps of Q are used to follow the evolution of a Canadian warming in November - December 1981 and a particularly strong warming in January 1982. The advection of Q over large distances on isentropic surfaces was a striking feature of the flow during each event. This could be identified because of our ability to follow the movement of material lines due to the approximate conservation of Q over several days. The advection of Q was a nonlinear process because its changing distribution affected the advecting wind field. The Canadian warming did not lead to a permanent change in the structure of the westerly vortex, as defined by the coarse-grain field of Q, whereas the January event was accompanied by a substantial loss of resolved Q which was never fully recovered.
Fairlie D. A. T.
Oneill A.
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