A new diagnostic framework is developed and applied to ERA-Interim to quantitatively assess vertical velocity (omega) profiles in the wavenumber–frequency domain. Two quantities are defined with the first two EOF–PC pairs of omega profiles in the tropical ocean: a top-heaviness ratio and a tilt ratio. The top-heaviness and tilt ratios are defined, respectively, as the cospectrum and quadrature spectrum of PC1 and PC2 divided by the power spectrum of PC1. They represent how top-heavy an omega profile is at the convective maximum, and how much tilt omega profiles contain in the spatiotemporal evolution of a wave. The top-heaviness ratio reveals that omega profiles become more top-heavy as the time scale (spatial scale) becomes longer (larger). The MJO has the most top-heavy profile while the eastward inertio-gravity (EIG) and westward inertio-gravity (WIG) waves have the most bottom-heavy profiles. The tilt ratio reveals that the Kelvin, WIG, EIG, and mixed Rossby–gravity (MRG) waves, categorized as convectively coupled gravity waves, have significant tilt in the omega profiles, while the equatorial Rossby (ER) wave and MJO, categorized as slow-moving moisture modes, have less tilt. The gross moist stability (GMS), cloud–radiation feedback, and effective GMS were also computed for each wave. The MJO with the most top-heavy omega profile exhibits high GMS, but has negative effective GMS due to strong cloud–radiation feedbacks. Similarly, the ER wave also exhibits negative effective GMS with a top-heavy omega profile. These results may indicate that top-heavy omega profiles build up more moist static energy via strong cloud–radiation feedbacks, and as a result, are more preferable for the moisture mode instability.
- Award ID(s):
- 1906768
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10167488
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences
- Volume:
- 77
- Issue:
- 5
- ISSN:
- 0022-4928
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1575 to 1582
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
more » « less
-
more » « less
Abstract Two analytical models with different starting points of convective parameterizations, the Fuchs and Raymond model on one hand and the Khairoutdinov and Emanuel model on the other, are used to develop “minimal difference” models for the MJO. The main physical mechanisms that drive the MJO in both models are wind-induced surface heat exchange (WISHE) and cloud–radiation interactions (CRI). The dispersion curves for the modeled eastward-propagating mode, the MJO mode, are presented for an idealized case with zero meridional wind and for the realistic cases with higher meridional numbers. In both cases, the two models produce eastward-propagating modes with the growth rate greatest at the largest wavelengths despite having different representations of cumulus convection. We show that the relative contributions of WISHE and CRI are sensitive to how the convection and entropy/moisture budgets are represented in models like these.
Significance Statement The Madden–Julian oscillation is the largest weather disturbance on our planet. It propagates eastward encompassing the whole tropical belt. It influences weather all around the globe by modulating hurricanes, atmospheric rivers, and other phenomena. Numerical models that forecast the Madden–Julian oscillation need improvement. Here we explore the physics behind the Madden–Julian oscillation using simple analytical models. Our models are based on the assumption that surface enthalpy fluxes and cloud–radiation interactions are responsible for the Madden–Julian oscillation but it should be borne in mind that other physical mechanisms have been proposed for the MJO. The impact of this research is to better understand the Madden–Julian oscillation mechanism.
-
more » « less
Abstract The authors propose a new analytic approximation to aid understanding of the “moisture modes” that arise in idealized models of tropical intraseasonal oscillations. The approximation makes use of the separation between the time scale of the large scale flow and that of convective adjustment, but does not neglect the moisture tendency. The approximation filters out equatorial Kelvin waves, so that the only remaining mode is the intraseasonal moisture mode. Some physical insights are more transparent under the approximation: (a) vertical advection of moisture or temperature lead to a diffusion‐type operator that damps short waves, and instability is strongest at planetary scale. (b) A positive effective gross moist stability appears in a wave operator, while a negative effective gross moist stability leads to instabilities whose growth rates increase with zonal wavenumber. (c) Zonal moisture advection and surface flux feedbacks are crucial for both planetary instability and eastward propagation.
-
more » « less
Abstract In theoretical models of tropical dynamics, the effects of both surface friction and upward wave radiation through interaction with the stratosphere are oft-ignored, as they greatly complicate mathematical analysis. In this study, we relax the rigid-lid assumption and impose surface drag, which allows the barotropic mode to be excited in equatorial waves. In particular, a previously developed set of linear, strict quasi-equilibrium tropospheric equations is coupled with a dry, passive stratosphere, and surface drag is added to the troposphere momentum equations. Theoretical and numerical model analysis is performed on the model in the limits of an inviscid surface coupled to a stratosphere, as well as a frictional surface under a rigid lid. This study confirms and extends previous research that shows the presence of a stratosphere strongly shifts the growth rates of fast-propagating equatorial waves to larger scales, reddening the equatorial power spectrum. The growth rates of modes that are slowly propagating and highly interactive with cloud radiation are shown to be negligibly affected by the presence of a stratosphere. Surface friction in this model framework acts as purely a damping mechanism and couples the baroclinic mode to the barotropic mode, increasing the poleward extent of the equatorial waves. Numerical solutions of the coupled troposphere–stratosphere model with surface friction show that the stratosphere stratification controls the extent of tropospheric trapping of the barotropic mode, and thus the poleward extent of the wave. The superposition of phase-shifted barotropic and first baroclinic modes is also shown to lead to an eastward vertical tilt in the dynamical fields of Kelvin wave–like modes.
-
more » « less
Abstract Westerly wind bursts (WWBs) are brief, anomalously westerly winds in the tropical Pacific that play a role in the dynamics of ENSO through their forcing of ocean Kelvin waves. They have been associated with atmospheric phenomena such as tropical cyclones, the MJO, and convectively coupled Rossby waves, yet their basic mechanism is not yet well understood. We study WWBs using an aquaplanet general circulation model, and find that eastward-propagating convective heating plays a key role in the generation of model WWBs, consistent with previous studies. Furthermore, wind-induced surface heat exchange (WISHE) acts on a short time scale of about two days to dramatically amplify the model WWB winds near the peak of the event. On the other hand, it is found that radiation feedbacks (i.e., changes in the net radiative anomalies accompanying westerly wind bursts) are not essential for the development of WWBs, and act as a weak negative feedback on WWBs and their associated convection. Similarly, sensible surface heat flux anomalies are not found to have an effect on the development of model WWBs.
- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
-
Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1175/jas-d-19-0281.1
