ENERGETICS OF THE SOLAR SEMIDIURNAL TIDE IN THE ATMOSPHERE
Abstract
A study was made of the energy generation, transport, and dissipation by the solar semi diurnal tide in the earth's atmosphere. Computations based on recent observations at Terciera, Azores show a downward transport of available potential energy in the troposphere, reaching a maximum of 7 x 10 to the -3 watts per square meter at or near the ground. Similar data for Fort Worth, Texas, substantiates the assumptions used in this calculation. This flux is generated primarily by water vapor insolational heating, though horizontal convergence of tidal available potential energy may be significant. Neither eddy viscosity nor an inverse correlation between convective heating and tidal temperature fluctuation appear adequate as energy sinks for this flux. Instead, it is proposed that the undulations of the earth's surface interact with the main tidal motion to generate secondary internal gravity waves; these propagate energy vertically to levels where they are viscously damped, and thus represent a loss of energy to the tide.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 10, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0414510
Entities
People
- Walter L. Jones
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology