The energetics of the general circulation of the atmosphere in southern hemisphere during the IGY part II: The cycle of the energetics of the atmosphere in southern hemisphere

Abstract

The spatio-temporal distribution in the mixed space-time domain of some components of the cycle of the energetics of the general circulation in southern hemisphere during the IGY are analyzed and discussed. Tentative box diagrams of the energy cycle are given for summer, winter and annual mean conditions, on the basis of an assumption concerning the dissipation of eddy kinetic energy. The general features of the energy cycle in southern hemisphere are similar to those observed in the northern hemisphere; the intensity of the general circulation is higher in winter. The transequatorial interactions between the two hemispheres are important specially during southern hemisphere summer. The generation of zonal available potential energy is stronger in summer, and is one of the most important sources of energy to maintain the general circulation; diabatic heating due to the release of latent heat in the phase transitions of water vapour gives the dominant contribution to the generation of zonal available potential energy. The rate of generation of eddy available potential energy, indirectly estimated, is higher in summer while the baroclinic process of transformation of zonal available potential energy into eddy available potential energy is more intense in winter. The antarctic continent seems to play an important role in the energetics of southern hemisphere; its contributions to the generation of zonal available potential energy and to the conversion of this form of energy into eddy available potential energy are noteworthy.