Skip to main content
Log in

Low level wind shear and baroclinic growth of monsoon depression scale waves

  • Published:
Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

A quasi-geostrophic, linear stability analysis was carried out to find the effect of low level wind shear on the baroclinic growth of monsoon depression scale waves. The low level wind shear of the mean monsoon flow is altered by varying the surface wind, the position and the magnitude of the westerly maximum. The growth rate and phase velocity of the short unstable waves for all the cases of wind profiles are obtained. It is noticed that the growth rate and phase velocity of the depression scale waves (L≈2000 to 2500 km) are not influenced by small variations in the position or magnitude of the westerly maximum. But the growth rate of depression scale waves does depend on the average wind shear between 850–500 mb region.

Zusammenfassung

Die Scherung des Windes in den unteren Schichten und das barokline Wachstum von kurzen Wellen der Monsundepression

Es wurde eine quasigeostrophische, lineare Stabilitäts-analyse durchgeführt, um die Auswirkung der Windscherung in den unteren Luftschichten auf das barokline Wachstum von kurzen Wellen der Monsundepression zu studieren. Die Windscherung der mittleren Monsunströmung wird durch wechselnden Wind am Boden sowie die Lage und die Stärke des Westwindmaximums verändert. Für alle Fälle von Windprofilen wurde die Wachstumsrate und die Phasengeschwindigkeit der kurzen labilen Wellen (L≈2000 bis 2500 km) bestimmt. Man erkennt, daß beide von kleineren Änderungen in Lage und Stärke des Westwindmaximums nicht beeinflußt werden. Dagegen hängt die Wachstumsrate der kurzen Wellen der Monsundepression wohl von der mittleren Windscherung im Niveau zwischen 850 und 500 mb ab.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Brown JA (1969) A numerical investigation of hydrodynamic instability and energy conversions in the quasi-geostrophic atmosphere, Part I. J Atmos Sci 26: 352–365

    Google Scholar 

  • Daggupaty SM, Sikka DR (1977) On the vorticity budget and vertical velocity distribution associated with the life cycle of a monsoon depression. J Atmos Sci 34: 773–792

    Google Scholar 

  • Gall RL (1976) A comparison of linear baroclinc theory with the eddy statistics of a general circulation model. J Atmos Sci 33: 349–373

    Google Scholar 

  • Joseph PV (1978) Observational aspects of the monsoon and its variability. Hari Om Ashram Prerit Vikram Sarabhai Award Lecture, Ahmedabad

  • Joseph PV, Raman PL (1966) Existence of low level westerly jet stream over peninsular India during July. IJMG 17: 407–410

    Google Scholar 

  • Koteswaram P, George C (1958) On the formation of monsoon depression in the Bay of Bengal. IJMG 9: 9–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Krishnamurti TN (1979) Copendium of meteorology, vol II, part IV. Tropical Meteorology Ed. A. Wiin Nielsen WMO no 364

  • Krishnamurti TN, Kanamitsu MA, Godbole R, Chang CB, Carr F, Chow J (1975) Study of monsoon depressions, part I: Synoptic structure. J Met Soc Japan 53: 227–240

    Google Scholar 

  • Mishra SK, Salvekar PS (1980) Role of baroclinic instability in the development of monsoon disturbances. J Atmos Sci 37: 383–394

    Google Scholar 

  • Raman CRV, Rao YP, Subrahmanyan SK, Sheikh ZE (1978) Wind shear in a monsoon depression. Nature 276: 51–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Rao YP (1976) South-west monsoon. Met Monogr no 1, India Meterological Department

  • Rao KV, Rao GSP, Rajamani S (1978) Diagnostic study of a monsoon depression. IJMHG 29: 260–272

    Google Scholar 

  • Rao KV, Rajamani S (1970) Diagnostic study of a monsoon depression by geostrophic baroclinic model. IJMG 21: 187–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Robert AJ (1966) The integration of a low order spectral form of the primitive meteorological equations. J Met Soc Japan 44: 237–245

    Google Scholar 

  • Saha KR, Shukla J (1980) Further evidence of association of westward propagating disturbances with monsoon depressions, FGGE Operation Report 9, results of summer MONEX field phase research, A, WMO publication, p 23–31

  • Saha KR, Sanders F, Shukla J (1981) Westward propagating predecessor of disturbances with monsoon depressions. Mon Wea Rev 109: 330–343

    Google Scholar 

  • Salvekar PS (1984) On the Development of monsoon disturbances through baroclinic instability and other physical processes. Ph D thesis, University of Pune

  • Salvekar PS, George L, Mishra SK (1983) Contribution of baroclinc mechanism in the formation of the depression during MONEX-79. Arch Met Geoph Biocl A 32: 55–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Salvekar PS, Mishra SK (1985) Baroclinic energetics and zonal plane distribution of monsoon disturbances. Pure Appl Geophys 123

  • Shukla J (1977) Barotropic and baroclinic instability of mean monsoon zonal wind during summer monsoon. Pure Appl Geophys 115: 1449–1461

    Google Scholar 

  • Sikka DR (1977) Some aspects of life history structure and movement of monsoon depressions. Pure Appl Geophys 115: 1501–1529

    Google Scholar 

  • Sikka DR, Paul DK (1975) A diagnostic study on the structure of monsoon depressions. GFD workshop, monsoon meteorology, I I Sc Bangalore, p 136–182

  • Sikka DR, Rajamani S, Singh SS (1980) Life cycle of — monsoon depression in the Bay of Bengal. FGGE operation report, 9, results of summer MONEX field phase e research, A, WMO publication, p 129–136

  • Staley DO, Gall RL (1977) On the wavelength of maximum baroclinic instability. J Atmos Sci 34: 1679–1688

    Google Scholar 

  • Subrahmanyam D, Tandon MK, George L, Mishra SK (1981) Role of barotropic mechanism in the development of a monsoon depression. A MONEX study. Pure Appl Geophys 119: 901–912

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

With 5 Figures

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Salvekar, P.S., George, L. & Mishra, S.K. Low level wind shear and baroclinic growth of monsoon depression scale waves. Meteorl. Atmos. Phys. 35, 10–18 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01029520

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01029520

Keywords

Navigation