A semi-analytical model for the propagation of Rossby waves in slowly varying flow

作者：Liu Fei; Chao JiPing; Huang Gang^*; Feng LiCheng

来源：Chinese Science Bulletin, 2011, 56(25): 2727-2731.

DOI：10.1007/s11434-011-4626-5

• Rossby waves
• ray theory
• energy evolution
• semi-analytical
• slowly varying flow

Instead of using complicated general circulation models (GCMs), a simple semi-analytical model based on ray theory has been used to study energy evolution and ray path of Rossby waves in slowly varying mean flows. Our model yields similar results to those calculated from barotropic models, and also provides a chance to study Rossby waves in the slowly varying flows with both vertical and meridional shears. The model results show that upward Rossby waves can only grow in westerlies, and decay when further ascend. The baroclinic Rossky waves are restrained by the beta effect in lower latitude. In the westerly jet with meridional and vertical shears, the barotropic Rossby waves originated from south of the westerly jet, and these can grow while propagating upper-northward. The baroclinic Rossby waves originated from north of the westerly jet and can grow while propagating upward and southward. Such a semi-analytical model provides a simple forecasting tool to allow study of the local weather anomalies to the heating/topography forcing associated with the global warming.

• 出版日期2011-9
• 单位国家海洋环境预报中心; 中国科学院大气物理研究所