A note on the finite amplitude dynamics of spatially growing baroclinic waves on an f-plane

Lee-Or Merkine

doi:10.3402/tellusa.v30i6.10393

A note on the finite amplitude dynamics of spatially growing baroclinic waves on an f-plane

Tellus

Volume 30 (1978): Issue 6

By: Lee-Or Merkine

Open Access

|Jan 1978

Abstract

Finite amplitude behavior of inviscid spatially growing baroclinic waves in a two-layer model on an f-plane is investigated. In the framework of the weakly nonlinear theory it is found that nonlinearity can stabilize or destabilize the flow. In the former case, the nonlinear wave experiences spatial vacillations. In the latter case, the possibility of high frequency finite amplitude subcritical destabilization of the flow field exists. The study is relevant to the problem of mountain-induced cyclogenesis.

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