Transition from geostrophic turbulence to inertia–gravity waves in the atmospheric energy spectrum
Abstract
High- and low-pressure systems, commonly referred to as synoptic systems, are the most energetic fluctuations of wind and temperature in the midlatitude troposphere. Synoptic systems are a few thousand kilometers in scale and are governed by a balance between the pressure gradient force and the Coriolis force. Observations collected near the tropopause by commercial aircraft indicate a change in dynamics at horizontal scales smaller than about 500 km. Smaller-scale fluctuations are shown to be dominated by inertia–gravity waves, waves that propagate on vertical density gradients but are influenced by Earth’s rotation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Nov 17, 2014
- Source ID
- 10.1073/pnas.1410772111
Entities
People
- Jörn Callies
- Oliver Bühler
- Raffaele Ferrari
Organizations
- Division of Ocean Sciences
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- National Science Foundation Division of Mathematical Sciences
- New York University
- Office of Naval Research