AOSS 401, Fall 2007 Lecture 25 November 09, 2007 Richard B. Rood (Room 2525, SRB) Derek Posselt (Room 2517D, SRB)

Class News November 09, 2007 Computing assignment –Second component assigned next week –Due 5 December (or thereabouts) –Involves writing a very simple numerical model… Important Dates: –November 12: Homework 6 due—questions? –November 16: Next Exam (Review on 14 th ) –November 21: No Class –December 10: Final Exam

Today Work through Homework 5 Another perspective on planetary vorticity advection Finish discussion of QG omega equation Midlatitude cyclone energetics

5.1) Homework Problem In pressure coordinates, the horizontal momentum equation is written as: Derive the equation for the conservation of vorticity. You should pursue the derivation until you have terms analogous to the divergence terms, tilting terms, and the baroclinic or solenoidal term (the term that included the pressure gradient). If there are additional or missing terms, then explain their presence or absence.

Solution to (5.1) 1.Recognize that we are in pressure coordinates 2.Split the equation into u- and v- components

Solution to (5.1) 3.Differentiate the v-equation with respect to x and the u- equation with respect to y

Solution to (5.1) 4.Subtract the u-equation from the v-equation and expand the material derivatives

Solution to (5.1) 5.Collect terms, use the definition of divergence and vorticity, and end up with No solenoidal term, as the equation is defined to be on a constant pressure surface

5.2) Homework Problem This is a special homework problem. While we have not formally seen this equation, I think that we have the tools to do this problem. Given the equation for the conservation of vorticity, ζ, where the prime represents a small quantity and the overbar represents a larger, mean quantity: With the definition of the velocity field given below, show that the vorticity equation can be written as: What is the criterion for wave solutions to this equation?

Solution to (5.2) 1.Plug in the definitions for 2.Then plug in 3.and scale out terms that are products of perturbations

Solution to (5.2) (Lecture 22, slide 39…) Dispersion relation. Relates frequency and wave number to flow. Must be true for waves.

Solution to (5.2) Rearrange the dispersion relation to find Mean wind must be positive (from the west) for waves to form

Back to the Quasi-Geostophic System

Scaled equations in pressure coordinates (The quasi-geostrophic (QG) equations) momentum equation continuity equation thermodynamic equation geostrophic wind

Application of QG: Prediction of Atmospheric Flow Want to know how distribution of geopotential will change in the atmosphere –changes in pressure gradient force (jet stream, convergence/divergence, cyclogenesis) Derived geopotential height tendency equation

Geopotential Tendency Equation f 0 * Vorticity Advection Thickness Advection

Advection of vorticity Advection of relative vorticity Advection of planetary vorticity

Advection of vorticity Φ 0 - Δ Φ Φ 0 + Δ Φ Φ0Φ0 Δ Φ > 0 A B C ٠ ٠ ٠ x, east y, north LL H ζ < 0; anticyclonic ζ > 0; cyclonic  Advection of ζ tries to propagate the wave this way   Advection of f tries to propagate the wave this way 

x, east y, north Advection of planetary vorticity Start with straight-line flow

Advection of planetary vorticity Introduce perturbations and remember conservation of potential vorticity (assume no change in depth h ) x, east y, north

Advection of planetary vorticity North/south movement  change in planetary vorticity Conservation of angular momentum  change in ζ ζ < 0; anticyclonic f > f 0 ζ > 0; cyclonic f < f 0 ζ > 0; cyclonic f < f 0 f = f 0 x, east y, north

Advection of planetary vorticity Flow associated with rotation advects adjacent parcels north/south ζ < 0; anticyclonic f > f 0 ζ > 0; cyclonic f < f 0 ζ > 0; cyclonic f < f 0 x, east y, north

x, east y, north Advection of planetary vorticity The wave propagates to the west (actual propagation direction depends on wind speed and wavelength…) ζ < 0; anticyclonic f > f 0 ζ > 0; cyclonic f < f 0 ζ > 0; cyclonic f < f 0

VERTICAL VELOCITY Important for –Clouds and precipitation –Cyclogenesis (spinup of vorticity through stretching) Computed from governing equations

Scaled equations in pressure coordinates (The quasi-geostrophic (QG) equations) momentum equation continuity equation thermodynamic equation geostrophic wind

Methods for Estimating Vertical Velocity 1.Kinematic method (continuity equation) 2.Adiabatic method (thermodynamic eqn) 3.Diabatic method (thermodynamic eqn) 4.QG-omega equation (unified equation)

1. Kinematic Method: Link between  and the ageostrophic wind Continuity equation (pressure coordinates) and non-divergence of geostrophic wind lead to which can be rewritten as: and solved for:

Thermodynamic equation: Assume the diabatic heating term J is small (J=0), and there is no local time change in temperature 2. Adiabatic Method Link between  and temperature advection Horizontal temperature advection term Stability parameter warm air advection:  0 (ascending air) cold air advection:  > 0, w ≈ -  /  g < 0 (descending air)

2. Adiabatic Method Link between  and temperature advection Based on temperature advection, which is dominated by the geostrophic wind, which is large. Hence this is a reasonable way to estimate local vertical velocity when advection is strong. θ - Δθ θ + Δθθ WARM COLD adiabatic = no change in θ

Start from thermodynamic equation in p-coordinates: Diabatic term If you take an average over space and time, then the advection and time derivatives tend to cancel out. Radiation Condensation Evaporation Melting Freezing 3. Diabatic Method Link between  and heating/cooling

mean meridional circulation

1. Kinematic method: divergence  vertical motion –Links the horizontal and vertical motions. Since geostrophy is such a good balance, the vertical motion is linked to the divergence of the ageostrophic wind (small). –Therefore: small errors in evaluating the winds and lead to large errors in . –The kinematic method is inaccurate. Vertical Velocity: Problems

2. Adiabatic method: temperature advection  vertical motion –Assumes steady state (no movement of weather systems) –Assumes no diabatic heating (no clouds or precipitation) –What about divergence/convergence? –The adiabatic method has severe limitations. Vertical Velocity: Problems

3. Diabatic method: Heating/cooling  vertical motion –Assumes definition of some average atmosphere –Assumes vertical motion only due to diabatic heating –What about divergence/convergence? –The diabatic method has severe limitations. Vertical Velocity: Problems

4. QG-omega equation Combine all QG equations None of the obvious methods work well for for midlatitude waves in general Combine information from the full set of QG equations –Geopotential tendency equation (comes from vorticity equation--combines equation of motion, continuity equation, and geostrophic relationship) –Thermodynamic energy equation

1.) Apply the horizontal Laplacian operator ( 2 ) to the QG thermodynamic equation 2.) Differentiate the geopotential height tendency equation with respect to p 3.) Combine 1) and 2) 4. QG-omega equation Combine all QG equations

Link between vertical derivative of vorticity advection (divergence/stretching) and vertical motion

4. QG-omega equation Combine all QG equations Link between vertical derivative of vorticity advection (divergence/stretching) and vertical motion Link between temperature advection and vertical motion

4. QG-omega equation Combine all QG equations Link between vertical derivative of vorticity advection (divergence/stretching) and vertical motion Link between temperature advection and vertical motion Link between diabatic heating and vertical motion

4. QG-omega equation Combine all QG equations This is still a complicated equation to analyze directly— simplify it Assume small diabatic heating (scale out last term) Use the chain rule on the first and second terms on the right hand side and combine the remaining terms

Advection of absolute vorticity by the thermal wind 4. QG-omega equation (simplified) Simple, right?

“Advection” by thermal wind? How to analyze this on a map? Thermal Wind is Perpendicular to Thickness Look at contours of constant thickness Gradient of

What about that Laplacian? QG omega equation relates vorticity advection by the thermal wind with the laplacian of omega Assume omega has a wave-like form This leads to which means

Vertical Motion on Weather Maps Laplacian of omega is proportional to -ω Omega can be analyzed as: Remember, from definition of omega and scale analysis Positive vorticity advection by the thermal wind indicates rising motion

Vertical Motion on Weather Maps Positive vorticity advection by the thermal wind indicates rising motion + Lines of constant thickness Descent Ascent

Vertical Motion on Weather Maps Surface 500 mb 700 mb

Vertical Motion on Weather Maps Surface 500 mb 700 mb

Vertical Motion on Weather Maps Surface 500 mb 700 mb

Vertical Motion on Weather Maps Surface 500 mb 700 mb

Vertical Motion on Weather Maps Surface 500 mb 700 mb

Energetics of Cyclone Development

Energetics of Midlatitude Cyclone Development The jet stream is commonly associated with strong temperature gradients in the middle/lower troposphere (thermal wind relationship) Midlatitude cyclones develop along waves in the jet stream Midlatitude cyclones are always associated with fronts (Norwegian cyclone model) There is a link between temperature gradients and cyclone development…

Idealized vertical cross section

Two important definitions barotropic –density depends only on pressure. –By the ideal gas equation, surfaces of constant pressure are surfaces of constant density are surfaces of constant temperature (idealized assumption).  =  (p) baroclinic –density depends on pressure and temperature (as in the real world).  =  (p,T)

Barotropic/baroclinic atmosphere Barotropic: p p +  p p + 2  p p p +  p p + 2  p T+2  TT+  T T T T+2  T T+  T Baroclinic: ENERGY HERE THAT IS CONVERTED TO MOTION

Barotropic/baroclinic atmosphere Barotropic: p p +  p p + 2  p p p +  p p + 2  p T+2  TT+  T T T T+2  T T+  T Baroclinic: DIABATIC HEATING KEEPS BUILDING THIS UP

Barotropic/baroclinic atmosphere Energetics: –Baroclinic = temperature contrast = density contrast = available potential energy –Extratropical cyclones intensify through conversion of available potential energy to kinetic energy

Available Potential Energy Defined as the difference in potential energy after an adiabatic redistribution of mass COLD WARM

Available Potential Energy Defined as the difference in potential energy after an adiabatic redistribution of mass COLD WARM

Energetics in the atmosphere Diabatic heating (primarily radiation) maintains the equator to pole temperature contrast Strength of temperature contrast referred to as “baroclinicity” Cyclones at midlatitudes reduce this temperature contrast—adjust baroclinic atmosphere toward barotropic

Energetics in the atmosphere Ability to convert potential energy to kinetic energy directly related to tilt with height (offset) of low/high pressure

Back to this weekend’s East Coast cyclone (animations of 500 mb and surface)

Back to this weekend’s East Coast cyclone Occlusion describes the transition of a cyclone from baroclinic (west-ward tilt with height) to barotropic (“vertically stacked”) Once there is no more westward vertical tilt with height, no further development can occur We will look at this schematically next time

Next time Brief wrap-up of midlatidude cyclone dynamics Excursion into the boundary layer Introduction to the next computing assignment