ATM S 575, Winter 2001

Large Scale Tropical Meteorology

114 King Bldg., 543-6720

This is a course in the observations and underlying dynamics of large-scale tropical circulations. It forms the second part of a three course sequence on atmosphere-ocean interactions.

The course concentrates on:

• convection in the tropics and radiative convective equilibrium of the tropics
• the factors that determine regions of large scale persistent precipitation in the tropics,
• the thermal forcing of atmospheric circulations by precipitation in these regions, and
• the temporal variability of the forcing and response.

Examples of large scale convective forcing will be applied to zonally symmetric circulations (the Hadley circulation), to zonally asymmetric circulations (Walker circulation), to ENSO, and to monsoonal circulations.

q_e,s,h,h^*, buoyancy.

Vertical Structure in disturbed and undisturbed regions.

Deep and shallow Convection.

How clouds affect the environment--cumulus parameterization.

SST, SLP, Precip.: Mean and annually varying.

Divergence: Mean and annually varying.

OLR: Mean and annually varying.

Surface Fluxes over the Ocean: Mean and annually varying.

Heat Transport by the Oceans and Surface Fluxes.

Single baroclinic mode (Matsuno).

Unbounded atmosphere (Lindzen)

Recent Results (Wu)

Gill Model.

Lindzen-Nigam Model.

The Reed-Recker Wave.

Adiabatic Compensation: Observations and dynamics.

Hyde's Theorem.

Role of Cumulus Friction.

Angular Momentum Conservation.

Observations.

Current Theory.

Predictability.

Summer and Winter Monsoons.

30-60 day variability.

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Wu, Z., E.S. Sarachik, and D.S. Battisti, 1999: Thermally forced surface winds on an equatorial beta-plane. J. Atmos. Sci., 56, 2029-2037.

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Battisti, D.S., and A.C. Hirst, 1988: Interannual variability in the tropical atmosphere/ocean system: influence of the basic state and ocean geometry. J. Atmos. Sci., 46, 1687-1712.

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