The diurnal cycle and the meridional extent of the tropics

Reference:

Milewski, P. A. and Tabak, E. G., 2011. The diurnal cycle and the meridional extent of the tropics. Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena, 240 (2), pp. 233-240.

Official URL:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physd.2010.10.006

Abstract

An explanation is proposed for the meridional extent of the Hadley cells: the diurnal waves forced by solar heating trapped between −30°and 30°. These baroclinic waves, we propose, give rise to the daily nature of tropical meteorology, and ultimately to the intensified mixing and circulation associated with the Hadley cells and the shape of the tropopause. This conceptual explanation is validated with basic scaling arguments and with two diurnally forced one-layer models: One linear and the other nonlinear, the latter with a simple closure for mixing and entrainment by breaking waves.

Details

Item Type	Articles
Creators	Milewski, P. A.and Tabak, E. G.
DOI	10.1016/j.physd.2010.10.006
Departments	Faculty of Science > Mathematical Sciences
Publisher Statement	MIlewskiTabakEquatorFinal.pdf: NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Milewski, P. A. and Tabak, E. G., 2011. The diurnal cycle and the meridional extent of the tropics. Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena, 240 (2), pp. 233-240. DOI: 10.1016/j.physd.2010.10.006
Refereed	Yes
Status	Published
ID Code	26675

Find a copy

Export

Actions (login required)

View Item

Document Downloads

More statistics for this item...

Research