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At least 613 records · Page 34

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NASA NTRS1987

Wind regime peculiarities in the lower thermosphere in the winter of 1983/84

Temporal variations of prevailing winds at 90 to 100 km obtained from measurements carried out in winter 1983 to 1984 at three sites in the USSR and two sites in East Germany are reported. These variations are compared with those of the thermal stratospheric regime. Measurements were carried out using the drifts D2 method (meteor wind radar) and the D1 method (ionospheric drifts). Temporal variations of zonal and meridional prevailing wind components for all the sites are given. Also presented are zonal wind data obtained using the partial reflection wind radar. Wind velocity values were obtained by averaging data recorded at between 105 and 91 km altitude. Wind velocity data averaged in such a way can be related to about the same height interval to which the data obtained by the meteor radar and ionospheric methods at other sites, i.e., the mean height of the meteor zone (about 95 km). The results presented show that there are significant fluctuations about the seasonal course of both zonal and meridional prevailing winds.

Lysenko, I. A.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Lower thermosphere wind regime according to radiometeor measurements in Kazan

Research in dynamic processes in the lower thermosphere has been carried out in Kazan using the meteor radar facilities of the Kazan State University under the MAP-GLOBMET international program. Presented is experimental data on seasonal dependences of the wind for anomalous winter circulation periods, spring and autumn reconstructions and stable summer circulation from observations conducted in 1978 to 1984. Prevailing wind parameters are shown: zonal and meridional component amplitudes and A sub 0 and azimuth of the prevailing wind vector. The values are also presented for semidiurnal zonal and meridional tidal components, their correlation coefficient and zonal component amplitude maximum time.

Sidorov, V. V.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Latitude dependence of eddy variances

The eddy variance of a meteorological field must tend to zero at high latitudes due solely to the nature of spherical polar coordinates. The zonal averaging operator defines a length scale: the circumference of the latitude circle. When the circumference of the latitude circle is greater than the correlation length of the field, the eddy variance from transient eddies is the result of differences between statistically independent regions. When the circumference is less than the correlation length, the eddy variance is computed from points that are well correlated with each other, and so is reduced. The expansion of a field into zonal Fourier components is also influenced by the use of spherical coordinates. As is well known, a phenomenon of fixed wavelength will have different zonal wavenumbers at different latitudes. Simple analytical examples of these effects are presented along with an observational example from satellite ozone data. It is found that geometrical effects can be important even in middle latitudes.

Bowman, Kenneth P.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Dynamical aspects of stratospheric vacillations in a highly truncated model

The dynamics of stratospheric vacillations in the Holton and Mass (1976) model (HM model) is investigated using an EP flux diagnosis based on the transformed Eulerian-mean equations developed by Andrews and McIntyre (1976). Vacillations in the HM model can be divided into a dynamically active period and an inactive period. It is shown that, during the active period, the mean zonal winds vary vigorously like a stratospheric sudden warming. This variation is mainly due to the wave driving. During the inactive period, the mean zonal wind becomes easterly in the lower layers within 10-30 km. These layers prevent the wave from propagating upward. The mean zonal winds above the layers are accelerated gradually by the Coriolis torque of the 'residual' circulation due to the diabatic heating.

Yoden, Shigeo↗

NASA NTRS1987

A new class of stratospheric vacillations in a highly truncated model due to wave interference

A new class of vacillations is obtained in the Holton and Mass model with a different bottom boundary condition. The model is a highly truncated spectral model describing wave-zonal flow interactions in a forced-dissipative system. The mean zonal wind and the wave change their vertical structures periodically with a period of the wave progression (5-10 days for the parameters used in this study). The vacillations are interpreted as an interference between a stationary wave and a topographically modified Rossby wave. The modified Rossby wave is an eigenmode of baroclinic flow in the presence of bottom topography within the framework of the highly truncated system. Time variations of the mean zonal wind are essential for the modification of the Rossby wave.

Yoden, Shigeo↗

NASA NTRS1988

The numerical simulation of transonic separated flow about the complete F-16A

The thin-layer, Reynolds-averaged, Navier-Stokes equations are used to simulate the transonic viscous flow about the complete F-16A fighter aircraft. These computations demonstrate how computational fluid dynamics (CFD) can be used to simulate turbulent viscous flow about realistic aircraft geometries. A zonal grid approach is used to provide adequate viscous grid clustering on all aircraft surfaces. Zonal grids extend inside the F-16A inlet and up to the compressor face while power on conditions are modeled by employing a zonal grid extending from the exhaust nozzle to the far field. A simple solution adaptive grid procedure is used on the wing surface and good agreement with experimental data is obtained. Computations for the F-16A in side slip are also presented.

Flores, Jolen↗

NASA NTRS1988

Linear simulation of the stationary eddies in a GCM. II - The 'Mountain' model

Linear stationary wave theory is used to account for zonal asymmetries of the winter-averaged tropospheric circulation obtained in a GCM. The eddy zonal velocity field in the upper troposphere indicates that the orographic and thermal plus transient contributions are nearly equal in amplitude, while the eddy meridional velocity field (which is dominated by shorter zonal scales) shows the orographic contribution to be dominant. The two contributions are found to be roughly in phase over the east Asian coast, and they contribute roughly equal amounts to the low level Siberian high. Results indicate that the 300 mb extratropical response to tropical forcing reaches 50 gpm over Alaska, and that the responses to sensible heating and lower tropospheric transients are strongly anticorrelated.

Nigam, Sumant↗

NASA NTRS1989

Temperature and circulation in the stratospheres of the outer planets

A zonally symmetric, linear radiative-dynamical model is compared with observations of the upper tropospheres and stratospheres of the outer planets. Seasonal variation is included in the model. Friction is parameterized by linear drag (Rayleigh friction). Gas opacities are accounted for but aerosols are omitted. Horizontal temperature gradients are small on all the planets. Seasonal effects are strongest on Saturn and Neptune but are weak even in these cases, because the latitudinal gradient of radiative heating is weak. Seasonal effects on Uranus are extremely weak because the radiative time constant is longer that the orbital period. One free parameter in the model is the frictional time constant. Comparison with observed temperature perturbations over zonal currents in the troposphere shows that the frictional time constant is on the same order as the radiative time constant for all these objects. Vertical motions predicted by the model are extremely weak. They are much smaller than one scale height per orbital period, except in the immediate neighborhood of tropospheric and zonal currents.

Conrath, Barney J.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Observed cloud level circulation on Venus - Temporal variations and solar longitude dependence

This paper presents data on the atmospheric circulation of Venus, obtained by the Mariner 10 (1974) and Pioneer (1979-1986) observations. The results yielded evidence of relatively stable zonal circulation at the cloud level. On the other hand, changes on a yearly time scale appear in both the zonal and the meridional components of motion. Solar thermal tides and large-scale planetary waves are also seen in averaged zonal and meridional cloud motions. The relationship between the large-scale circulation and global cloud structure is discussed.

Limaye, Sanjay Shridhar↗

NASA NTRS1988

Irreversible wave-mean flow interactions in a mechanistic model of the stratosphere

A wave-1 minor warming is simulated in a mechanistic, global, primitive equation model. The modification of the zonal flow by the rearrangement of potential vorticity on a middle stratopheric isentrope is compared in a fully nonlinear model and in a model with only one wave and the zonal flow (a quasi-linear model). The permanent rearrangement of potential vorticity during the wave episode is more intense and more localized meridionally in the fully nonlinear model, which is able to capture the process of planetary wave breaking in some detail. Additional experiments reveal that the differences between the quasi-linear and nonlinear models persist for a broad range of wave amplitudes, and that the quasi-linear model can qualitatively reproduce the modification of the zonal flow by the wave when the diffusive dissipation of the wave is enhanced. These results are discussed in the context of the theory of barotropic Rossby waves in shear flows, and in comparison with recent numerical simulations of the middle atmosphere.

Robinson, Walter A.↗

NASA NTRS1989

A patched-grid algorithm for complex configurations directed towards the F-18 aircraft

A patched-grid algorithm for the analysis of complex configurations with an implicit, upwind-biased Navier-Stokes solver is presented. Results from both a spatial-flux and a time-flux conservation approach to patching across zonal boundaries are presented. A generalized coordinate transformation with a biquadratic geometric element is used at the zonal interface in order to treat highly stretched viscous grids and arbitrarily-shaped zonal boundaries. Applications are made to the F-18 forebody-strake configuration at subsonic, high-alpha conditions. Computed surface flow patterns compare well with ground-based and flight-test results; the large effect of Reynolds number on the forebody flowfield is shown.

Thomas, James L.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Barotropic instability of basic states with a realistic jet and a wave

The stability of basic states consisting of a jet similar to the stratospheric polar night jet and a traveling wave with a single zonal wavenumber is examined in a linearized nondivergent barotropic model on a sphere. Basic state waves are chosen to resemble observed traveling and stationary features in the winter stratosphere. Results are presented for disturbance growth rates, propagation characteristics, and energy conversion as a function of the basic state wave amplitude. The effects of small amplitude basic state waves on unstable disturbances arising from a zonally symmetric jet are discussed; results are shown where a small amplitude basic state wave dramatically affects the stability characteristics. Evidence is shown that the presence of a traveling wave may favor the appearance of disturbances that include other zonal wavenumbers which move with the basic state wave; this result is discussed in relation to the origin of observed quasi-nondispersive features in the polar winter stratosphere. Results for a stationary wavenumber 1 basic state wave suggest that a distorted polar vortex may be unstable to disturbances that would lead to further distortion. An unstable disturbance for a basic state with an eastward moving wavenumber 2 has components which resemble, in period and location, traveling waves that are observed in the winter stratosphere.

Manney, Gloria L.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Dissipationless decay of Jovian jets

IRIS data have been taken as the bases of windshear calculations whose results imply a decrease of the Jovian planet's zonal jets with altitude. The simplified dynamical model developed to furnish a mechanism accounting for the decay involves a highly truncated set of dissipationless equations simulating the upper-tropospheric and stratospheric flow. While the model's lower boundary is constrained as a latitudinally periodic set of alternating jets, the upper boundary constraint maintains a constant potential temperature. The small perturbations to which the imposed zonal jets are unstable grow and interact nonlinearly, generating a zonal flow that opposes the imposed one and thereby leading to the apparent decrease of the jets with altitude.

Pirraglia, Joseph A.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Accurate simulation of vortical flows

Even with recent supercomputers having a large memory, Navier-Stokes simulations for vortical flows do not provide satisfactory results because of the lack of grid resolution to accurately simulate the strength of separation vortices. To overcome this problem, a zonal method is proposed to increase the number of grid points locally. Interface scheme which is critical for an efficient and stable zonal method is based on the Fortified Navier-Stokes concept. Application to both two-dimensional conical and three-dimensional delta wing problems indicates this simple zonal method can improve the accuracy of vortical flow simulations.

Fujii, Kozo↗

NASA NTRS1990

Surface winds from tropical Pacific islands - Climatological statistics

Variability space- and time-scales are presently investigated on the basis of multidecadal time series of surface wind observations from islands in the tropical Pacific. The frequency distribution of variance, derived from daily-averaged data, exhibits considerable geographical variation. Poleward of about 5 deg of latitude, the interannual variability in zonal wind diminishes sharply and the zonal and meridional wind variances become increasingly comparable. The zonal wind energy level in the 3- to 60-day band decreases with distance from the equator.

Harrison, D. E.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Low- and mid-latitude ionospheric electric fields during the January 1984 GISMOS campaign

The electrical coupling between the high-, middle-, and low-latitude ionospheres during January 17-19, 1984 is examined, using interplanetary and high-latitude magnetic field data together with F region plasma drift measurements from the EISCAT, Sondre Stromfjord, Millstone Hill, Saint-Santin, Arecibo, and Jicamarca incoherent scatter radars. The penetration both the zonal and meridional electric field components of high-latitude origin into the low-latitude and the equatorial ionospheres are studied. The observations in the postmidnight sector are used to compare the longitudinal variations of the zonal perturbation electric field with predictions made from global convection models. The results show that the meridional electric field perturbations are considerably more attenuated with decreasing latitude than the zonal fluctuations. It is concluded that variations in the meridional electric field at low latitudes are largely due to dynamo effects.

Fejer, B. G.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Temperature and circulation in the stratosphere of the outer planets

A zonally symmetric, linear radiative-dynamical model is compared with observations of the upper tropospheres and stratospheres of the outer planets. Seasonal variation is included in the model. Friction is parameterized by linear drag (Rayleigh friction). Gas opacities are accounted for but aerosols are omitted. Horizontal temperature gradients are small on all the planets. Seasonal effects are strongest on Saturn and Neptune but are weak even in these cases, because the latitudinal gradient of radiative heating is weak. Seasonal effects on Uranus are extremely weak because the radiative time constant is longer than the orbital period. One free parameter in the model is the frictional time constant. Comparison with observed temperature perturbations over zonal currents in the troposphere shows that the frictional time constant is on the same order as the radiative time constant for all these objects. Vertical motions predicted by the model are extremely weak. They are much smaller than one scale height per orbital period, except in the immediate neighborhood of tropospheric and zonal currents.

Conrath, Barney J.↗

NASA NTRS1990

A model of stratospheric chemistry and transport on an isentropic surface

This paper presents a new photochemical transport model designed to simulate the behavior of stratospheric trace species in the middle stratosphere. The model has an Eulerian grid with the latitude and longitude coordinates on a single isentropic surface (hemispheric or global), in which both the dynamical and the photochemical processes can be accurately represented. The model is intgegrated for 12 days with winds and temperatures supplied by three-dimensional integration of an idealized wavenumber-one disturbance. The results for the long-lived tracers such as N2O showed excellent correlation with the potential vorticity distribution, validating the transport scheme. Calculations with zonally averaged wind and temperature fields showed that discrepancies in the calculation of the zonal mean were less than 10 percent for O3 and HNO3, compared with the zonal mean of the previous results.

Austin, John↗