Abstract
AbstractThis study examines the effect of the ageostrophic circulations associated with jet entrance and exit regions on the nonlinear development of normal modes. The nonlinear growth and decay phases of the baroclinic life cycle and, in particular, the vertical propagation and subsequent meridional advection of Rossby waves are very sensitive to the exact form of the zonally symmetric basic state. This leads to changes in the associated energetics and eddy fluxes. In order to represent the passage of a disturbance though a jet, a time‐varying zonally symmetric meridional circulation was implemented. Many of the factors identified in the time invariant work, such as the normal‐mode latitudinal and meridional advection, were again found to be important. Ageostrophic meridional circulations may play an important role in determining the magnitude and length of mid‐latitude storm tracks.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
