Numerical Studies of Frontal Dynamics.
Abstract
Efforts concentrated on the development of a two dimensional primitive equation (PE) model of frontogenesis that simultaneously incorporates the frontagenetical mechanisms of confluence and horizontal shear. Applying this model to study the effects of upper level frontogenesis, it appeared to be dominated by tilting effects associated with cross front variation of vertical motion, in which subsidence is maximized within and to the warm side of the frontal zone. Results suggest that aspects characteristics of three-dimensional barolinic waves may be abstracted to a significant extent in a two dimensional framework. They also show that upper-level frontogenesis and tropopause folding can occur in the absence of three-dimensional curvature effects, commonly believed to be necessary for realistic upper-level frontogenesis. An implication of the dominant tilting effects is that they may have to be adequately resolved by numerical weather prediction models, thus requiring better horizontal and vertical resolution. Keywords: Frontogenesis; Primitive equation model; Tilting; Confluence; Shear.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 31, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA180509
Entities
People
- Daniel Keyser
Organizations
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration