Accessibility navigation


Friction in mid-latitude cyclones: an Ekman-PV mechanism

Boutle, I. A., Belcher, S. E. and Plant, R. S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8808-0022 (2015) Friction in mid-latitude cyclones: an Ekman-PV mechanism. Atmospheric Science Letters, 16 (2). pp. 103-109. ISSN 1530-261X

[img]
Preview
Text - Accepted Version
· Please see our End User Agreement before downloading.

395kB

It is advisable to refer to the publisher's version if you intend to cite from this work. See Guidance on citing.

To link to this item DOI: 10.1002/asl2.526

Abstract/Summary

The mechanism by which the atmospheric boundary layer reduces the intensity of mid-latitude cyclones is investigated. It is demonstrated that two alternative theories, Ekman pumping and the baroclinic potential vorticity (PV) mechanism, in fact act in union to maximize the spin-down. Ekman pumping aids the ventilation of PV from the boundary layer, and shapes the resulting PV anomaly into one of increased static stability. PV inversion techniques are used to demonstrate how this anomaly reduces the coupling between the upper- and lower-levels within the cyclone, reducing the growth rate.

Item Type:Article
Refereed:Yes
Divisions:Science > School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences > Department of Meteorology
ID Code:38937
Uncontrolled Keywords:Ekman pumping; potential vorticity; cyclogenesis; Eady model
Publisher:John Wiley & Sons

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

University Staff: Request a correction | Centaur Editors: Update this record

Page navigation