Energetics of the Western Hemisphere Circulation Pattern

Abstract

Abstract The Western Hemisphere (WH) circulation pattern, identified by self-organizing maps cluster analysis, is a low-frequency atmospheric regime that influences the fluctuations of large-scale circulation over the North Pacific–North American–North Atlantic areas. The reanalysis datasets from ECMWF are used to estimate the energetics of the WH pattern in this study. The composite results based on monthly WH events reveal that the kinetic energy (KE) associated with the WH pattern is maintained through the barotropic conversion from the climatological-mean westerlies, mainly in the Atlantic jet exit regions. The KE could also be gained through the barotropic feedback forcing from transient eddies. The corresponding baroclinic conversion of available potential energy (APE) from the climatological-mean state, which contributes most efficiently to the energy maintenance of the WH pattern, is obvious in the middle and lower troposphere, owing to the thermal contrast of the colder continent and warmer ocean over the North America–North Atlantic sector. The baroclinic conversion associated with the heat flux on the climatological temperature gradient is consistent with the southwestward-tilting height anomalies from 850 to 500 hPa. The baroclinic feedback from transient eddies contributes negatively to the energy conversion and destroys the maintenance of the WH pattern.