Abstract
The barotropic and baroclinic disturbances axisymmetrized by the barotropic basic vortex are examined in an idealized modeling framework consisting of two layers. Using a Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin approach, the radial propagation of a baroclinic disturbance is shown to be slower than a barotropic disturbance, resulting in a slower linear axisymmetrization for baroclinic disturbances. The slower-propagating baroclinic waves also cause more baroclinic asymmetric kinetic energy to be transferred directly to the barotropic symmetric vortex than from barotropic disturbances, resulting in a faster axisymmetrization process in the nonlinear baroclinic wave case than in the nonlinear barotropic wave case.
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Peng, M.S., Peng, J., Li, T. et al. Effect of baroclinicity on vortex axisymmetrization. Part I: Barotropic basic vortex. Adv. Atmos. Sci. 31, 1256–1266 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-014-3237-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-014-3237-x