Local Energetics of an Idealized Baroclinic Wave Using Extended Exergy

Abstract

The concept of local extended exergy is here applied to an idealized, dry, and reversible-adiabatic cyclone development. The extended exergy as well as the kinetic energy are decomposed into a mean part, defined by a zonal average, and into a perturbation from the mean. The resulting local energy evolution equations provide an extension of the well-known Lorenz-type available energy equations. A term in the baroclinic conversion rate, connected with static stability anomalies, which is not usually considered, is of significance even in this idealized case study and contributes significantly to the nonlinear equilibration of the baroclinic wave.