Atmospheric waves as scaling, turbulent phenomena
It is paradoxical that, while atmospheric dynamics are highly nonlinear and turbulent, atmospheric waves are commonly modelled by linear or weakly nonlinear theories. We postulate that the laws governing atmospheric waves are in fact high-Reynolds-number (<i>Re</i>), emergent laws so tha...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2014-04-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/14/3195/2014/acp-14-3195-2014.pdf |
| Summary: | It is paradoxical that, while atmospheric dynamics are highly nonlinear and
turbulent, atmospheric waves are commonly modelled by linear or weakly
nonlinear theories. We postulate that the laws governing atmospheric waves
are in fact high-Reynolds-number (<i>Re</i>), emergent laws so
that – in common with the emergent high-<i>Re</i> turbulent laws – they are also
constrained by scaling symmetries. We propose an effective turbulence–wave
propagator which corresponds to a fractional and anisotropic extension of the
classical wave equation propagator, with dispersion relations similar to those
of inertial gravity waves (and Kelvin waves) yet with an anomalous
(fractional) order <i>H</i><sub>wav</sub>/2. Using geostationary IR radiances, we
estimate the parameters, finding that <i>H</i><sub>wav</sub> ≈ 0.17 ± 0.04
(the classical value = 2). |
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| ISSN: | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |