The impact of nonlinear stability and instability on the validity of the tangent linear model

Abstract

The impact of nonlinear stability and instability on the validity of tangent linear model (TLM) is investigated by comparing its results with those produced by the nonlinear model (NLM) with the identical initial perturbations. The evolutions of different initial perturbations superposed on the nonlinearly stable and unstable basic flows are examined using the two-dimensional quasi-geostrophic models of double periodic-boundary condition and rigid boundary condition. The results indicate that the valid time period of TLM, during which TLM can be utilized to approximate NLM with given accuracy, varies with the magnitudes of the perturbations and the nonlinear stability and instability of the basic flows. The larger the magnitude of the perturbation is, the shorter the valid time period. The more nonlinearly unstable the basic flow is, the shorter the valid time period of TLM. With the double—periodic condition the valid period of the TLM is shorter than that with the rigid—boundary condition.