Pulse asymptotics of the Charney baroclinic instability problem

Abstract

The asymptotic response of the Charney baroclinic instability problem to a localized perturbation is determined using the formalism of Briggs (1964) and exploiting a recently obtained highly accurate WKB approximate dispersion relation (Lindzen and Rosenthal, 1981). Comparison is made with previous results for two-level and Eady models. Small scales and rapid growth characteristic of the initial stages of cyclogenesis are found and the linear dispersion relation, which can be obtained from observation of zonal wind and stability, emerges as a forecast tool for prediction of geographically local cyclogenesis.