Quon's (1976) three dimensional semi-spectral, semi-grid point numerical model, simulating the thermally driven annulus experiments with flat bottom conducted at Florida State University's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Institute, has been modified to include two-wave bottom topography and radially sloping bottom and top boundaries using $\sigma$ coordinates. With wave numbers 2, 4 and 6 as the only waves included, and with no wave-wave interactions, the new model has successfully exhibited the primary effects of both bottom topography and the equivalent $\beta$-effect due to the sloping boundaries on barotropic annulus flows. / These numerical simulations agree qualitatively with the laboratory experiments, in that as the rotation rate increases, the zonal jet changes from a single to a double jet structure and the upstream displacement of the topographically-forced wave increases. The former effect is more pronounced in the absence of sloping boundaries and the latter in the presence of such boundaries. It is also found that the maximum retardation of the zonal flow due to the topographic drag, takes place in the interior of the fluid around mid radius. / Our numerical simulations of baroclinic flows over two-wave topography have also captured the major features found in the laboratory experiments. In particular, topographically induced wave number 2 is found to be the dominant wave at the lowest rotation rate while traveling baroclinic wave numbers 4 and 6 become the dominant modes at higher rotation rates. We have also found that the zonal mean zonal current is stronger with topography present, which is interpreted as being due to the topographically induced low level heat flux which, as shown by Pfeffer (1987, 1992) can serve to accelerate the "westerlies". / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-12, Section: B, page: 6806. / Major Professor: Richard L. Pfeffer. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1995.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_77640 |
| Contributors | Shie, Chung-Lin., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 159 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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