Analytical Solutions for Testing of Baroclinic and Wind-Driven Three-Dimensional Hydrodynamic Models

It is always a challenge for a model developer to verify a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model, especially for the baroclinic term over variable topography, due to a lack of observational data sets or suitable analytical solutions. In this paper, exact solutions for the periodic forcing by surface heat flux and wind stress are given by solving the linearized equations of motion neglecting the rotation, advection and horizontal diffusion terms. The temperature at the bottom is set to a prescribed periodic value and a slip condition on flow is enforced at the bottom. The geometry of the quarter annulus, which has been extensively studied for two- and three-dimensional analytical solutions of unstratified water bodies, is used with a general power law variation of the bottom slope in the radial direction and is constant in the azimuthal direction. The analytical solutions are derived in a cylindrical coordinate system, which describes the three-dimensional fluid field in a Cartesian coordinate system. The results presented in this paper should provide a foundation for studying and verifying the baroclinic term over a varied topography in a three-dimensional numerical model.

A Study of Formation and Development of One Kind of Cyclone on the Mei-yu (Baiu) Front

The paper presents one diagnosis of baroclinity and the coupling of jets during the developing process of a cyclone that occurred on the mei-yu (Baiu) front around the end of the second stage of the mei-yu (Baiu) in 1998. Results have shown that: (1) The advantageous changes of upper-level large-scale circulation caused the appearance and maintenance of the coupling between the upper-level jet (ULJ) and lower-level jet (LLJ) over the cyclone's area. The coupling of jets in this case possesses some different characteristics from previous cases. Moreover, the coupling between the ULJ and LLJ caused the intensification of both lower-level convergence and upper-level divergence, which was favorable for the development of this cyclone. (2) From the analysis of the voricity budget, the role of lower-level convergence in the development of the cyclone was emphasized. Divergent wind in the lower troposphere was a direct contributor to the development of the cyclone. (3) During the development of the cyclone, cold air and warm air were active over the cyclone's domain. Although this cyclone occurred at the mei-yu (Baiu) front, its development assumed baroclinity to a certain extent, which was just the main difference between this kind of cyclone and the first kind of low which is usually barotropic (or quasi-barotropic). (4) In recent years, studies on mei-yu front lows have paid more attention to the lower troposphere. In this paper, the analysis of the energy budget further supports this point: the certain effect of baroclinity forcing in the upper troposphere on mei-yu front lows cannot be ignored.

MULTIPLE EQUILIBRIA IN BAROCLINIC ATMOSPHERE BY THERMAL FORCING RELATED TO SUBTROPICAL HIGH

By using Lorenz’s moist general circulation model, a nonlinear and dissipative system describing atmospheric motion has been obtained in approximation of Low Order.The multiple equilibria and the transformation between the flow patterns of winter and summer, the latitudinal oscillation of subtropical high by thermal forcing and nonlinear interaction of general circulation are studied in this paper.The results show that the transformation of flow patterns is a discontinuous leaping, and is a process of resetting new flow pattern by rapid exchange inflow field.In the corresponding dry model, we cannot find the latitudinal oscillation of the center of subtropical high.In the moist model, after the thermal effect of water vapor is drawn into the model, nonlinear interaction appears between flow and heating fields.This effect helps to bring about the latitudinal oscillation of subtropical high.