The diurnal cycle and the meridional extent of the tropics

Paul A. Milewski; Esteban G. Tabak

doi:10.1016/j.physd.2010.10.006

The diurnal cycle and the meridional extent of the tropics

Paul A. Milewski, Esteban G. Tabak

Mathematics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

An explanation is proposed for the meridional extent of the Hadley cells: the diurnal waves forced by solar heating trapped between -30°and 30°. These baroclinic waves, we propose, give rise to the daily nature of tropical meteorology, and ultimately to the intensified mixing and circulation associated with the Hadley cells and the shape of the tropopause. This conceptual explanation is validated with basic scaling arguments and with two diurnally forced one-layer models: One linear and the other nonlinear, the latter with a simple closure for mixing and entrainment by breaking waves.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	233-240
Number of pages	8
Journal	Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena
Volume	240
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physd.2010.10.006
State	Published - Jan 15 2011

Keywords

Breaking waves
Diurnal cycle
Equatorial waves
Hadley cell
Inertia-gravity waves
Tropopause

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
Mathematical Physics
Condensed Matter Physics
Applied Mathematics

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10.1016/j.physd.2010.10.006

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abstract = "An explanation is proposed for the meridional extent of the Hadley cells: the diurnal waves forced by solar heating trapped between -30°and 30°. These baroclinic waves, we propose, give rise to the daily nature of tropical meteorology, and ultimately to the intensified mixing and circulation associated with the Hadley cells and the shape of the tropopause. This conceptual explanation is validated with basic scaling arguments and with two diurnally forced one-layer models: One linear and the other nonlinear, the latter with a simple closure for mixing and entrainment by breaking waves.",

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AU - Tabak, Esteban G.

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N2 - An explanation is proposed for the meridional extent of the Hadley cells: the diurnal waves forced by solar heating trapped between -30°and 30°. These baroclinic waves, we propose, give rise to the daily nature of tropical meteorology, and ultimately to the intensified mixing and circulation associated with the Hadley cells and the shape of the tropopause. This conceptual explanation is validated with basic scaling arguments and with two diurnally forced one-layer models: One linear and the other nonlinear, the latter with a simple closure for mixing and entrainment by breaking waves.

AB - An explanation is proposed for the meridional extent of the Hadley cells: the diurnal waves forced by solar heating trapped between -30°and 30°. These baroclinic waves, we propose, give rise to the daily nature of tropical meteorology, and ultimately to the intensified mixing and circulation associated with the Hadley cells and the shape of the tropopause. This conceptual explanation is validated with basic scaling arguments and with two diurnally forced one-layer models: One linear and the other nonlinear, the latter with a simple closure for mixing and entrainment by breaking waves.

KW - Breaking waves

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KW - Equatorial waves

KW - Hadley cell

KW - Inertia-gravity waves

KW - Tropopause

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The diurnal cycle and the meridional extent of the tropics

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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