Dynamics of the ZonalZonal-Mean,

Mean,

Time-Mean Tropical Circulation

TimeCirculation

First consider a hypothetical

yp
planet like Earth, but

with no continents and no seasons and for which

the only friction acting on the atmosphere is at the
surfface.
This planet has an exact nonlinear equilibrium
solution for the flow of the atmosphere,
characterized by
1. Every column is in radiative-convective
equilibrium,
2. Wind vanishes at planets surface
3. Horizontal pressure gradients balanced by
3
Coriolis accelerations
2

Hydrostatic balance:

p
g
z
I pressure coordinat
In
di tes:

p
where
where

1 specific volume,

gz geopotential

Geostrophic balance on a sphere:

u

tan

2 sin urel
a
a p
2
rel

Can be
C
b phrased
h
d iin tterms off absolute
b l t angular
l

momentum per unit mass:

M a cos a cos u
M a cos

sin

2
3

a cos

Eliminate using hydrostatic equation:

1 tan M
T s *

2
2
a cos p
p p s* p
2

(Thermal wind equation)

Take s* s *( )

(convective neutrality)

Integrate upward from surface (p=p0),

taking
g u=0 at surface:

s *
2 2
2
M a cos a cos cot Ts T

ss *
2
u 2a cos u cot Ts T
0.

Ts T s *

u
2 sin y

Implies strongest west-east winds where

entropy gradient is strongest, weighted toward
equator
6

Two potential problems with this solution:

1. Not enough angular momentum available for

required west-east wind,

2 Equilibrium solution may be unstable

2.

How much angular momentum is

need
ded?

d?
At the tropopause,

s *
2 2
2
M a cos a cos cot Ts Tt

How much angular momentum is available?

M eq a
2

s *
Ts Tt

2 a 2 tan 1 cos 4
cos 2
8

More generally, we require that angular

momentum decrease away from the equator:
1 M 2
0
sin
1 2
s *
4 a cos
cos cot Ts Tt
0.

sin
2

Let

y sec 2

Ts Tt s *
1 y
2 2
0
yy a y
3

What happens when this condition

i viol
is
i lated?
d?
Overturning circulation must develop
Acts to drive actual entropy distribution
back toward criticality
Postulate constant angular momentum at
tropopause:

M t a
10

Integrate thermal wind equations down from

tropopause:
t

s *
M a a cos cott T Tt

T Tt s *
a 1

u
cos

3
2 cos
2a sin
Note:
N
t u att surfface allways < 0 ffor supercriti
iticall
entropy distribution

11

12

Critical entropy distribution:

Ts Tt s * 1 1
2 1
2 2
a yy 2 y

Ts Tt
Ts Tt * 1
1

s* 2 2 seq 1
1 y
2 2
a
a
y
2
Ts Tt * 1 2
1
2 2 seq 1 cos
2
cos
a
2
13

Violation results in large-scale overturning

circulation, known as the Hadley Circulation, that
transports heat poleward and drives surface entropy
gradient back toward its critical value

From "The General Circulation of the Tropical Atmosphere and Interactions with Extratropical
Latitudes - Vol. 1" by MIT Press. Courtesy of MIT Press. Used with permission.
14

15

Simulations by Held and Hou

(1980)

16

17

Zonal wind at tropopause

18

The cross-equatorial Hadley

Circullatiion

Ci

19

Numerical simulation using a 2-D primitive

equation
equat
o model
ode with
t pa
parameterized
a ete ed co
convection

ect o
(Pauluis, 2004)

Imposed sea surface temperature

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12.811 Tropical Meteorology

Spring 2011

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