Impact of Physical Processes on Maritime Frontogenesis
Abstract
A hydrostatic primitive equation model initialized in a highly baroclinically unstable state was used to simulate maritime cyclogenesis and frontogenesis. In order to identify boundary layer physical processes important in maritime frontogenesis, several different simulations were performed. An adiabatic and inviscid simulation provided the control for these experiments. The two different boundary layer parameterizations used were a K-theory parameterization and a second-order closure scheme. Results indicated that strong warm and cold fronts formed in the adiabatic and inviscid case but that the near-surface wind speed and vertical motion fields were unrealistic. In the K-theory simulation, the results were mew more realistic but convergence and vorticity were weaker. Results from the second-order closure simulation demonstrated that turbulent mixing of momentum was most important in producing the frontogenetic (and frontolytic) effects of the transverse secondary circulation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA283105
Entities
People
- William T. Thompson
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory