To understand the mechanisms of energy exchange between the tropics and the
midlatitudes, it is necessary to develop simplified climate models. Motivated by
linear wave theory, one such model is derived below. It captures the nonlinear
interaction between barotropic and first baroclinic modes. In particular, it allows
for the study of the barotropic response to a baroclinic forcing. Numerical methods
for handling this nonlinear system are carefully developed and validated. The
response generated by a physically realistic Kelvin wave forcing is studied and is
found to consist mainly of one eastward propagating wave (phase-locked to the
forcing) and two westward propagating (Rossby) waves. The Rossby waves are
shown to be highly constrained by the initial parameters of the forcing and an
explanation of this result is proposed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:uvic.ca/oai:dspace.library.uvic.ca:1828/1218 |
| Date | 08 October 2008 |
| Creators | Ferguson, James |
| Contributors | Khouider, Boualem |
| Source Sets | University of Victoria |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | Available to the World Wide Web |
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