Free Oscillations of an Atmosphere in Which Temperature Increases Linearly with Height
Abstract
It is shown that when the temperature in the atmosphere increases linearly with height, the speed of propagation of long waves does not approach a limit with increasing wavelength, as in the case of an atmosphere in which the temperature at great heights is assumed to be constant or decreasing, but increases linearly with the period. The group velocity ultimately also increases linearly with the period and becomes equal to half the phase velocity. The region of maximum energy of the oscillation is shifted to increasingly higher elevations as the period is increased. Whereas, in an atmosphere where the temperature gradient at great heights is negative or zero, the tides are similar to those in a uniform ocean of equivalent depth H (about 8 km, depending on the assumed vertical temperature distribution), the superposition of an outer envelope with a positive temperature gradient introduces a radical change into the nature of the tide. Insofar as it is still legitimate to refer the tides in such an atmosphere to those in an ocean of equivalent depth H, it can be said that H becomes a function of the period, which increases indefinitely with the period. The bearing of these results on the resonance theory of atmospheric tides is discussed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1950
- Accession Number
- ADA382108
Entities
People
- C. L. Pekeris
Organizations
- Institute for Advanced Study