A Partial Theory of the 26-Month Oscillation of the Zonal Wind in the Equatorial Stratosphere.

Other

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

3

Scientific paper

Attempted explanations of the 26-month zonal wind oscillation in the equatorial stratosphere are critically examined. Explanations in terms of subharmonic response, vacillation,' or a resonant mode are rejected. Some indirect astronomical and terrestrial evidence of a fluctuation of solar ultraviolet emission is noted, and, in view of the inadequacy of other explanations, appears to be a probable cause.A simple derivation is given of the thermal and geostrophic wind fields which propagate downward by eddy and radiative transfer through the equatorial stratosphere from a layer somewhere above 25 km which is periodically heated, presumably by a solar source of 26-month period. The wind field is shown to lag the temperature field by about 3 months in the vicinity of the equator, in agreement with available observations. The thermal and geostrophic wind disturbances propagate downward about 1 km mo1 for an effective conductivity (sum of eddy and radiative conductivities) of the order of 104 cm2 sec1, a value which is consistent with values derived from vertical diffusion of artificial radioactivity.The 26-month zonal wind oscillation is therefore described as a forced geostrophic wave motion produced by fluctuating solar emission. Its large amplitude over the equator traces to the greater sensitivity of the equatorial stratosphere to fluctuations of solar emission, to the large geostrophic wind for a given pressure gradient force, and finally to the protection, provided by large static and baroclinic stabilities in the equatorial stratosphere, from rapid heat and momentum transfers.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

A Partial Theory of the 26-Month Oscillation of the Zonal Wind in the Equatorial Stratosphere. does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with A Partial Theory of the 26-Month Oscillation of the Zonal Wind in the Equatorial Stratosphere., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and A Partial Theory of the 26-Month Oscillation of the Zonal Wind in the Equatorial Stratosphere. will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1299575

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.