Structure of tropical variability from a vertical mode perspective

A composite mesoscale precipitation event and a convectively coupled Kelvin wave produced by a diabatically accelerated cloud resolving model are compared. Special emphasis is placed on the vertical structure of density and moisture perturbations and the interaction of these perturbations with the composited dynamical fields. Both composites share the same general features, a gradual deepening and strengthening of convection followed by deep convection and a stratiform region, quite similar in character to observations and some recent idealized models. Composited frozen moist static energy (FMSE) perturbations are several times larger than virtual temperature perturbations, suggesting moisture is a dominant regulator of convection. An empirically derived two vertical mode decomposition of the dynamical and moisture fields is found to reproduce both composites quite well. The leading vertical modes of FMSE and virtual temperature variability are strongly correlated with the modes of vertical velocity variability; these correlations are strongest at near-zero time lags. Deep convection is associated with moistening in the lower and middle troposphere, while shallow convection is associated with a moist lower troposphere and dry middle and upper troposphere. To the extent that our numerical model is realistic, the empirical modal decomposition provides support for the use of two-mode idealized models for convective interaction with large-scale circulations and guidance for formulating feedbacks between convection and the thermodynamic profile in such models. The FMSE budget leads to an interpretation of the convective life-cycle as a recharge–discharge mechanism in column-integrated FMSE. The budget analysis places diabatic forcing, surface and radiative fluxes into the moist energetic framework. In particular, these fluxes are seen to prolong active convection, but play a passive role in its initiation. The modally decomposed FMSE budget highlights the dynamical importance of the second baroclinic mode in moistening the lower and middle troposphere before convective onset (recharging), and then discharging stored FMSE in the stratiform region.     

Systematic multiscale models for deep convection on mesoscales

This paper builds on recent developments of a unified asymptotic approach to meteorological modeling [ZAMM, 80: 765–777, 2000, SIAM Proc. App. Math. 116, 227–289, 2004], which was used successfully in the development of Systematic multiscale models for the tropics in Majda and Klein [J. Atmosph. Sci. 60: 393–408, 2003] and Majda and Biello [PNAS, 101: 4736–4741, 2004]. Biello and Majda [J. Atmosph. Sci. 62: 1694–1720, 2005]. Here we account for typical bulk microphysics parameterizations of moist processes within this framework. The key steps are careful nondimensionalization of the bulk microphysics equations and the choice of appropriate distinguished limits for the various nondimensional small parameters that appear. We are then in a position to study scale interactions in the atmosphere involving moist physics. We demonstrate this by developing two systematic multiscale models that are motivated by our interest in mesoscale organized convection. The emphasis here is on multiple length scales but common time scales. The first of these models describes the short-time evolution of slender, deep convective hot towers with horizontal scale ~ 1 km interacting with the linearized momentum balance on length and time scales of (10 km/3 min). We expect this model to describe how convective inhibition may be overcome near the surface, how the onset of deep convection triggers convective-scale gravity waves, and that it will also yield new insight into how such local convective events may conspire to create larger-scale strong storms. The second model addresses the next larger range of length and time scales (10 km, 100 km, and 20 min) and exhibits mathematical features that are strongly reminiscent of mesoscale organized convection. In both cases, the asymptotic analysis reveals how the stiffness of condensation/evaporation processes induces highly nonlinear dynamics. Besides providing new theoretical insights, the derived models may also serve as a theoretical devices for analyzing and interpreting the results of complex moist process model simulations, and they may stimulate the development of new, theoretically grounded sub-grid-scale parameterizations.     

Simple models for the diurnal cycle and convectively coupled waves

This paper presents a study of the diurnal cycle of tropical precipitation and its interaction with convectively coupled waves in the context of simple models with crude vertical resolution. One and two baroclinic mode models are tested in both the context of a one-column model and the context of a full spatial dependency that permits waves to propagate and interact with the diurnal cycle. It is found that a one baroclinic mode model is capable of reproducing a realistic diurnal cycle of tropical precipitation both over land and over the ocean provided an adequate switch function is used to mimic the congestus preconditioning mechanism that operates in the multicloud model of Khouider and Majda. However, a full two baroclinic mode multicloud model is needed to capture the interaction of convectively coupled tropical waves with the diurnal cycle. In a more conventional mass flux parameterization framework, both one and two baroclinic mode models fail to capture the diurnal cycle of tropical precipitation.     

Asymptotic solutions of the axisymmetric moist Hadley circulation in a model with two vertical modes

A simplified model of the moist axisymmetric Hadley circulation is examined in the asymptotic limit in which surface drag is strong and the meridional wind is weak compared to the zonal wind. Our model consists of the quasi-equilibrium tropical circulation model (QTCM) equations on an axisymmetric aquaplanet equatorial beta-plane. This model includes two vertical momentum modes, one baroclinic and one barotropic. Prior studies use either continuous stratification, or a shallow water system best viewed as representing the upper troposphere. The analysis here focuses on the interaction of the baroclinic and barotropic modes, and the way in which this interaction allows the constraints on the circulation known from the fully stratified case to be satisfied in an approximate way. The dry equations, with temperature forced by Newtonian relaxation towards a prescribed radiative equilibrium, are solved first. To leading order, the resulting circulation has a zonal wind profile corresponding to uniform angular momentum at a level near the tropopause, and zero zonal surface wind, owing to the cancelation of the barotropic and baroclinic modes there. The weak surface winds are calculated from the first-order corrections. The broad features of these solutions are similar to those obtained in previous studies of the dry Hadley circulation. The moist equations are solved next, with a fixed sea surface temperature at the lower boundary and simple parameterizations of surface fluxes, deep convection, and radiative transfer. The solutions yield the structure of the barotropic and baroclinic winds, as well as the temperature and moisture fields. In addition, we derive expressions for the width and strength of the equatorial precipitating region (ITCZ) and the width of the entire Hadley circulation. The ITCZ width is on the order of a few degrees in the absence of any horizontal diffusion and is relatively insensitive to parameter variations.     

On Nonlinear Baroclinic Waves and Adjustment of Pancake Dynamics

Three-dimensional nonhydrostatic Euler–Boussinesq equations are studied for Bu=O(1) flows as well as in the asymptotic regime of strong stratification and weak rotation. Reduced prognostic equations for ageostrophic components (divergent velocity potential and geostrophic departure/thermal wind imbalance) are analyzed. We describe classes of nonlinear anisotropic ageostrophic baroclinic waves which are generated by the strong nonlinear interactions between the quasi-geostrophic modes and inertio-gravity waves. In the asymptotic regime of strong stratification and weak rotation we show how switching on weak rotation triggers frontogenesis. The mechanism of the front formation is contraction in the horizontal dimension balanced by vertical shearing through coupling of large horizontal and small vertical scales by weak rotation. Vertical slanting of these fronts is proportional to μ^−1/2 where μ is the ratio of the Coriolis and Brunt–V?is?l? parameters. These fronts select slow baroclinic waves through nonlinear adjustment of the horizontal scale to the vertical scale by weak rotation, and are the envelope of inertio-gravity waves. Mathematically, this is generated by asymptotic hyperbolic systems describing the strong nonlinear interactions between waves and potential vorticity dynamics. This frontogenesis yields vertical “gluing” of pancake dynamics, in contrast to the independent dynamics of horizontal layers in strongly stratified turbulence without rotation. Received 8 April 1997 and accepted 29 March 1998     

Simulation of convectively coupled waves using WRF: a framework for assessing the effects of mesoscales on synoptic scales

The atmospheric variability in the tropics is primarily driven by convective heating. Observations revealed that convection in the tropics is organized into a hierarchy of multiscale convective systems ranging from the individual cloud cells to planetary scale disturbances that are nested within each other like Russian dolls. Current global climate models simulate very poorly these convectively coupled waves due in part to inadequate treatment of organized convection by the underlying cumulus parameterizations. Here, we present idealized simulations of convectively coupled equatorial waves (CCWs) using the weather research and forecast model in a horizontally limited domain consisting of a 4,500 km-wide square centered at the equator at moderate horizontal resolution of 10 km. We attempted and compared various configuration options, including switching on and off the cumulus parameterization (CP) and nesting a fine resolution 3.33 km domain, a 2,000 km-wide square, in the middle of the domain. It turns out that the results without a CP are much superior than those using a CP. While the cases without a CP resulted in a coherent eastward propagating CCW, which has many common features with observed convectively coupled Kelvin waves, the cumulus parameterization tends to destroy both the coherence of the propagating waves, even in the case with a nested domain, and reduces dramatically the variability. A primary demonstration on how such results could be used to show evidence of energy exchange, through momentum transport, between small-scale circulation due to mesoscale convection and the propagating synoptic scale wave will be reported is also presented.     

薄膜沿加热平板下落的稳定性分布

本文分析了薄膜沿加热平板下落的稳定性。在时间模式下，发现流动的不稳定性是由表面波不稳定和加毛细不稳定构成的，同时当流体的热扩散越大以及界面热量损失越小时，热毛细不稳定越剧烈，在时空模式下，流动随着Marangoni数的增大。流动有可能从对流不稳定过渡到绝对不稳定，这一结论尚待实验验证。     

A non-oscillatory balanced scheme for an idealized tropical climate model

We propose a non-oscillatory balanced numerical scheme for a simplified tropical climate model with a crude vertical resolution, reduced to the barotropic and the first baroclinic modes. The two modes exchange energy through highly nonlinear interaction terms. We consider a periodic channel domain, oriented zonally and centered around the equator and adopt a fractional stepping–splitting strategy, for the governing system of equations, dividing it into three natural pieces which independently preserve energy. We obtain a scheme which preserves geostrophic steady states with minimal ad hoc dissipation by using state of the art numerical methods for each piece: The f-wave algorithm for conservation laws with varying flux functions and source terms of Bale et al. (2002) for the advected baroclinic waves and the Riemann solver-free non-oscillatory central scheme of Levy and Tadmor (1997) for the barotropic-dispersive waves. Unlike the traditional use of a time splitting procedure for conservation laws with source terms (here, the Coriolis forces), the class of balanced schemes to which the f-wave algorithm belongs are able to preserve exactly, to the machine precision, hydrostatic (geostrophic) numerical-steady states. The interaction terms are gathered into a single second order accurate predictor-corrector scheme to minimize energy leakage. Validation tests utilizing known exact solutions consisting of baroclinic Kelvin, Yanai, and equatorial Rossby waves and barotropic Rossby wave packets are given.     

Linear instability characteristics of incompressible coaxial jets

The present study deals with the local linear instability of axisymmetric coaxial jets with a duct wall separating the two streams. The flow is assumed to be locally parallel, inviscid and incompressible. The objective of the work is to understand how the various parameters describing this flow geometry (i.e. boundary layers thicknesses at the exit, velocity ratio, wall thickness) may influence the instability of the flow and, in particular, the convective/absolute instability transition. A specific family of profiles is chosen for the modelling of the mean undisturbed flow and a spatial stability analysis is performed in order to identify the unstable modes and to assess how they are affected by the wake region behind the wall. An absolutely unstable mode is found, and its characteristics, depending on the velocity ratio and shear layers thicknesses, are determined. Results show that the absolute unstable mode is present only for a limited range of velocity ratios and that the corresponding frequency is almost constant if normalized with the mean velocity and wake thickness. This frequency value and the extension of the range of velocity ratios is similar to those found in the experiments on a similar geometry. Finally, a specific velocity ratio is found that maximizes the region at the jet exit for which an absolute instability behind the wall is present. This may increase the possibility for the onset of a global mode that may sustain the instability of the whole jet, enhancing considerably the mixing and entrainment characteristics between the two streams.     

Interpretation of simple and cloud-resolving simulations of moist convection–radiation interaction with a mock-Walker circulation

An idealized two-dimensional mock-Walker circulation in the tropical atmosphere forced by prescribed horizontal gradients in sea-surface temperature (SST) is discussed. This model problem includes feedbacks between cumulus convection and tropical large-scale circulations that have proved challenging for global climate models to predict accurately. Three-dimensional cloud-resolving model (CRM) simulations that explicitly simulate turbulent circulations within individual cloud systems across 4,096 and 1,024 km-wide Walker circulations are compared with a simple theoretical model, the Simplified Quasiequilibrium Tropical Circulation Model (SQTCM). This theoretical model combines the weak-temperature-gradient approximation with a unimodal truncation of tropospheric vertical structure coupled to highly simplified formulations of moist precipitating cumulus convection and its cloud-radiative feedbacks. The rainfall, cloud and humidity distribution, circulation strength, energy fluxes and scaling properties are compared between the models. The CRM-simulated horizontal distribution of rainfall and energy fluxes are adequately predicted by the SQTCM. However, the humidity distribution (drier subsidence regions and high-humidity boundary layers in the CRM), vertical structure and domain-size scaling of the circulation differ significantly between the models. For the SQTCM, the concept of gross moist stability – related to advection of moist static energy (MSE) out of tropospheric columns by the mean divergent circulation – is used to explain the width and intensity of the rainy region. Column MSE budgets averaged across the ascent branch of the simulated Walker circulation provide similar insight into the cloud-resolving simulations after consideration of the more complex horizontal and vertical circulation structure and the role of transient eddies. A nondimensional ascent-region moist stability ratio α, analogous to the SQTCM gross moist stability, is developed. One term of α is related to the vertical profiles of ascent-region mean vertical motion and ascent-region edge MSE; a second term is proportional to eddy export from the ascent region. Smaller α induces a narrower, rainier ascent region. The sensitivity of the SQTCM and CRM to a uniform 2 K increase in SST is compared, and the rainy upward branch of the circulation narrows in both models. MSE budget arguments are used to explain this behavior. In the simple model, the gross moist stability is a decreasing function of tropospheric temperature. Hence gross moist stability reduces and the ascent region narrows as the SST increases. In the CRM, increased atmospheric radiative cooling due to the warmer and moister troposphere destabilizes the MSE profile and decreases α, inducing a narrower ascent region. In the CRM, and to a lesser extent in the SQTCM, intensified shortwave cloud forcing in the warmer climate causes a negative radiative feedback on the SST change.Funding for this work from NSF grant DMS-0139794 is gratefully appreciated     

粘性可压混合层时间稳定性对称紧致差分求解

基于可压扰动方程组的一阶改型 ,将高精度对称紧致格式引入边值法数值线性稳定性分析。对所获非线性离散特征值问题给出了一个通用形式二阶迭代局部算法 ,实现了时间模式和空间模式的统一求解 ,并将扰动特征值及其特征函数同时得到。据此分析了可压平面自由混合层时间稳定性 ,涉及二维 /三维扰动波、粘性 /无粘扰动波、第一 /第二模态、特征函数、伪特征值谱等。研究表明 ,压缩性效应和粘性效应对最不稳定扰动波数和增长率呈相似的减抑作用 ;在 Mc=1附近 ,从高波数段开始 ,粘性效应可强化二维不稳定扰动波由第一模态向第二模态的过渡     

Weakly nonlinear acoustic instabilities

With the aim of eventually improving numerical solutions of small-scale phenomena, the Hunter-Keller theory of weakly nonlinear high-frequency waves is applied to the study of short wavelength instabilities in inviscid fluids driven by a heat or pressure source. A nonlinear damping effects is found which, for acoustic perturbations of a stationary, homogeneous state, reduces the growth rate to half the linear estimate. This is due primarily to the interactions of the expansion fan and the weak shock generated by the cumulative effect of the nonlinear convective term. For acoustic perturbations driven by an unbalanced heat source, the nonlinear damping actually stabilizes some modes which are unstable according to the linear theory. For the isentropic compression of a spherical shell of material obeying a γ-law equation of state, it is shown that the nonlinear damping again reduces the acoustic growth rate to the half the value predicted by conventional linear stability analyses.     

Explosive instability of geostrophic vortices. Part 1: baroclinic instability

In a quasi-geostrophic model, we study the baroclinic instability of a two-layer vortex. The singular unstable modes for potential vorticity anomalies are compared with the classical normal modes. Short-time singular modes are explosively unstable and, at short times, depend only on the baroclinic component of the flow. As time progresses, they evolve towards the normal modes and their sensitivity to flow parameters is explored. Asymptotic solutions are provided.     

Computer simulation of moist atmospheric convection with finite elements

A computer simulation is made of cellular convection in a moist atmosphere in an endeavour to obtain a computer model which more closely approximates the observed modes of convection. A finite element Galerkin technique, with Taylor approximation and Crank-Nicolson, is employed and comparisons are made with the author's earlier finite element models of convection in an absolutely unstable atmosphere and with finite difference models. It is found that the inclusion of the moisture effects alters the structure of a cell to that of a narrow ascending region and a wider descending region with the former of larger velocities than the latter, and also alters the preferred mode of convection by increasing the aspect ratio. This more closely resembles that which is observed in the atmosphere.     

Instability of small-amplitude convective flows in a rotating layer with free boundaries

The stability of steady convective flows in a horizontal layer with free boundaries, heated from below and rotating about a vertical axis, is studied in the Boussinesq approximation (Rayleigh-Bénard convection). The flows considered are convective rolls or square cells that are sums of two perpendicular rolls with equal wave numbers k. It is assumed that the Rayleigh number is almost critical in order for convective flows with a wave number k: R = R _c (k) + ε² to arise, the amplitude of the supercritical states being of the order of ε. It is shown that the flows are always unstable relative to perturbations that are the sum of one long-and two short-wave modes corresponding to linear rolls turned through small angles in opposite directions.     

A non-oscillatory balanced scheme for an idealized tropical climate model

We use the non-oscillatory balanced numerical scheme developed in Part I to track the dynamics of a dry highly nonlinear barotropic/baroclinic coupled solitary wave, as introduced by Biello and Majda (2004), and of the moisture fronts of Frierson et al. (2004) in the presence of dry gravity waves, a barotropic trade wind, and the beta effect. It is demonstrated that, for the barotropic/baroclinic solitary wave, except for a little numerical dissipation, the scheme utilized here preserves total energy despite the strong interactions and exchange of energy between the baroclinic and barotropic components of the flow. After a short transient period where the numerical solution stays close to the asymptotic predictions, the flow develops small scale eddies and ultimately becomes highly turbulent. It is found here that the interaction of a dry gravity wave with a moisture front can either result in a reflection of a fast moistening front or the pure extinction of the precipitation. The barotropic trade wind stretches the precipitation patches and increases the lifetime of the moisture fronts which decay naturally by the effects of dissipation through precipitation while the Coriolis effect makes the moving precipitation patches disappear and appear at other times and places.     

Nonlinear vibrations of a circular cylindrical shell with multiple internal resonances under multi-harmonic excitation

The nonlinear response of a water-filled, thin circular cylindrical shell, simply supported at the edges, to multi-harmonic excitation is studied. The shell has opportune dimensions so that the natural frequencies of the two modes (driven and companion) with three circumferential waves are practically double than the natural frequencies of the two modes (driven and companion) with two circumferential waves. This introduces a one-to-one-to-two-to-two internal resonance in the presence of harmonic excitation in the spectral neighbourhood of the natural frequency of the mode with two circumferential waves. Since the system is excited by a multi-harmonic point-load excitation composed by first and second harmonics, very complex nonlinear dynamics is obtained around the resonance of the fundamental mode. In fact, at this frequency, both modes with two and three circumferential waves are driven to resonance and each one is in a one-to-one internal resonance with its companion mode. The nonlinear dynamics is explored by using bifurcation diagrams of Poincaré maps and time responses.     

Nonlinear Normal Modes of Buckled Beams: Three-to-One and One-to-One Internal Resonances

Nonlinear normal modes of a fixed-fixed buckled beam about its first post-buckling configuration are investigated. The cases of three-to-one and one-to-one internal resonances are analyzed. Approximate solutions for the nonlinear normal modes are computed by applying the method of multiple scales directly to the governing integral-partial-differential equation and associated boundary conditions. Curves displaying variation of the amplitude of one of the modes with the internal-resonance-detuning parameter are generated. It is shown that, for a three-to-one internal resonance between the first and third modes, the beam may possess one stable uncoupled mode (high-frequency mode) and either (a) one stable coupled mode, (b) three stable coupled modes, or (c) two stable and one unstable coupled modes. For the same resonance, the beam possesses one degenerate mode (with a multiplicity of two) and two stable and one unstable coupled modes. On the other hand, for a one-to-one internal resonance between the first and second modes, the beam possesses (a) two stable uncoupled modes and two stable and two unstable coupled modes; (b) one stable and one unstable uncoupled modes and two stable and two unstable coupled modes; and (c) two stable uncoupled and two unstable coupled modes (with a multiplicity of two). For a one-to-one internal resonance between the third and fourth modes, the beam possesses (a) two stable uncoupled modes and four stable coupled modes; (b) one stable and one unstable uncoupled modes and four stable coupled modes; (c) two unstable uncoupled modes and four stable coupled modes; and (d) two stable uncoupled modes and two stable coupled modes (each with a multiplicity of two).     

NONLINEAR SATURATION OF BAROCLINIC INSTABILITY IN THE GENERALIZED PHILLIPS MODEL (Ⅰ) -THE UPPER BOUND ON THE EVOLUTION OF DISTURBANCE TO THE NONLINEARLY UNSTABLE BASIC FLOW

On the basis of the nonlinear stability theorem in the context of Arnol’s second theorem for the generalized Phillips model, nonlinear saturation of baroclinic instability in the generalized Phillips model is investigated. By choosing appropriate artificial stable basic flows, the upper bounds on the disturbance energy and potential enstrophy to the nonlinearly unstable basic flow in the generalized Phillips model are obtained, which are analytic completely and without the limitation of infinitesimal initial disturbance.     

超声速平面剪切层声辐射涡模态数值分析

对Mc = 1.2二维超声速空间发展平面自由剪切层, 进行了扰动模态及流动结构的数值分析. 采用时空三阶改进MacCormack格式, 差分求解可压缩扰动Navier-Stokes方程, 直接数值模拟入口不同基频谐波扰动的非线性演化特征. 采用空间线性稳定性理论证明, 计算所促发的扰动波是声辐射涡模态. 扰动参数及特征函数分析显示, 声辐射涡模态是弱色散的快／慢两种外部模态, 在扰动对流Mach数为超声速一侧呈膨胀／压缩状辐射. 单频受迫扰动可无相差地促发多模态混合扰动波, 而在自然扰动条件下, 剪切层的稳定性受慢模态主导.