Crucial role of obliquely propagating gravity waves in the quasi-biennial oscillation dynamics

<p>​​​​​​​In climate modelling, the reality of simulated flows in the middle atmosphere is largely affected by the model's representation of gravity wave processes that are unresolved, while these processes are usually simplified to facilitate computations. The simplification commonly app...

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Main Authors: Y.-H. Kim, G. S. Voelker, G. Bölöni, G. Zängl, U. Achatz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2024-03-01
Series:Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Online Access:https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/24/3297/2024/acp-24-3297-2024.pdf
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author Y.-H. Kim
Y.-H. Kim
G. S. Voelker
G. Bölöni
G. Zängl
U. Achatz
author_facet Y.-H. Kim
Y.-H. Kim
G. S. Voelker
G. Bölöni
G. Zängl
U. Achatz
author_sort Y.-H. Kim
collection DOAJ
description <p>​​​​​​​In climate modelling, the reality of simulated flows in the middle atmosphere is largely affected by the model's representation of gravity wave processes that are unresolved, while these processes are usually simplified to facilitate computations. The simplification commonly applied in existing climate models is to neglect wave propagation in horizontal direction and time. Here we use a model that fully represents the propagation of unresolved waves in all directions, thereby elucidating its dynamical effect upon the most important climate mode in the tropical stratosphere, i.e. the quasi-biennial oscillation. Our simulation shows that the waves in the equatorial stratosphere, which are known to drive this climate mode, can originate far away from the Equator in the troposphere. The waves propagating obliquely toward the Equator are found to play a huge role in the phase progression of the quasi-biennial oscillation as well as in its penetration into the lower stratosphere. Such waves will require further attention, given that current climate models are struggling to simulate the quasi-biennial oscillation down to the lower stratosphere, which may be needed to reproduce its observed impacts on the surface climate.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-648e3e85234f4ebfbbb9020e5f3019552024-03-15T15:50:13ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242024-03-01243297330810.5194/acp-24-3297-2024Crucial role of obliquely propagating gravity waves in the quasi-biennial oscillation dynamicsY.-H. Kim0Y.-H. Kim1G. S. Voelker2G. Bölöni3G. Zängl4U. Achatz5Institute for Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germanynow at: Research Institute of Basic Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South KoreaInstitute for Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, GermanyDeutscher Wetterdienst, Offenbach, GermanyDeutscher Wetterdienst, Offenbach, GermanyInstitute for Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany<p>​​​​​​​In climate modelling, the reality of simulated flows in the middle atmosphere is largely affected by the model's representation of gravity wave processes that are unresolved, while these processes are usually simplified to facilitate computations. The simplification commonly applied in existing climate models is to neglect wave propagation in horizontal direction and time. Here we use a model that fully represents the propagation of unresolved waves in all directions, thereby elucidating its dynamical effect upon the most important climate mode in the tropical stratosphere, i.e. the quasi-biennial oscillation. Our simulation shows that the waves in the equatorial stratosphere, which are known to drive this climate mode, can originate far away from the Equator in the troposphere. The waves propagating obliquely toward the Equator are found to play a huge role in the phase progression of the quasi-biennial oscillation as well as in its penetration into the lower stratosphere. Such waves will require further attention, given that current climate models are struggling to simulate the quasi-biennial oscillation down to the lower stratosphere, which may be needed to reproduce its observed impacts on the surface climate.</p>https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/24/3297/2024/acp-24-3297-2024.pdf
spellingShingle Y.-H. Kim
Y.-H. Kim
G. S. Voelker
G. Bölöni
G. Zängl
U. Achatz
Crucial role of obliquely propagating gravity waves in the quasi-biennial oscillation dynamics
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
title Crucial role of obliquely propagating gravity waves in the quasi-biennial oscillation dynamics
title_full Crucial role of obliquely propagating gravity waves in the quasi-biennial oscillation dynamics
title_fullStr Crucial role of obliquely propagating gravity waves in the quasi-biennial oscillation dynamics
title_full_unstemmed Crucial role of obliquely propagating gravity waves in the quasi-biennial oscillation dynamics
title_short Crucial role of obliquely propagating gravity waves in the quasi-biennial oscillation dynamics
title_sort crucial role of obliquely propagating gravity waves in the quasi biennial oscillation dynamics
url https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/24/3297/2024/acp-24-3297-2024.pdf
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