Mathematics – Logic
Scientific paper
Dec 2002
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002agufm.p22c0411b&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2002, abstract #P22C-0411
Mathematics
Logic
0343 Planetary Atmospheres (5405, 5407, 5409, 5704, 5705, 5707)
Scientific paper
Simplified models of planetary climate require a parameterization for the equator-to-pole transport of heat and its dependence on factors, including the planetary rotation rate. Various such parameterizations exist, including ones based on the theory of baroclinic eddy mixing, and on principles of global entropy generation. However, such parameterizations are difficult to test given the limited available observational opportunities. In this study, we use a numerical model to examine heat flux dependencies, as part of a wider study of circulation regime sensitivity to rotation rates and other parameters. This study makes use of a simplified version of the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) "Skyhi" General Circulation Model (GCM). All terrestrial hydrological processes have been stripped from the model, which in the form used here, is adapted from the Martian version of Skyhi. The atmosphere has the gas properties of CO2, except that it has been made uncondensible. No aerosols or surface ices are allowed. The model surface is flat, and of uniform albedo and thermal inertia. For the simulations presented in this study, the diurnal, seasonal, and eccentricity cycles have been disabled ({ i.e.} the surface and atmosphere receives constant, daily- and seasonally-averaged incident solar radiation). Radiative heating is treated with a band model for CO2 gas in the thermal and near-infrared bands. The use of a complex model to examine simplified theory of heat transport requires some justification since it is not necessarily clear that these models (GCM's) provide an accurate emulation of the real atmosphere (of any given planet). In this study, we have intentionally removed those aspects of GCM's that are of greatest concern. Especially for terrestrial GCM's, the hydrologic cycle is a major source of uncertainty due to radiative feedbacks, and cloud coupling to small-scale, convective mixing. For other planets, aerosols are important as radiatively and dynamical active species. Yet an additional cause of error, especially when testing global entropy principles, is the condensation of the atmosphere (as in the case of Mars). We have eliminated all of these concerns in the pure, non-condensible gas atmosphere of our simplified model. Our results will be compared with those of simplified theoretical predictions, and differences discussed.
Basu Sarbani
Richardson Mark I.
Wilson Richard J.
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