Summary
The kinetic energy budget of the troposphere between equator and 60°N is studied on the basis of climatic mean data for the winter and summer seasons. The intense Hadley circulation during winter is an important producer of kinetic energy. Kinetic energy generation within the domain of the Hadley cell exceeds the local frictional dissipation by about 20·1020 erg·sec−1. Transient eddy mechanisms are mainly responsible for the export from the northern portion of the Hadley cell poleward. The strong frictional dissipation within the extratropical cap and the energy consumption within the (indirect) Ferrel circulation are for about one third met by import across 30°N; about two-thirds of the local depletion appear to be supplied by kinetic energy generation associated with transient eddies, while the effect of standing eddies is found unimportant. Summer conditions are characterized by greatly decreased generation and dissipation rates; imports from the domaine of the Hadley cell become less important for the mainteance of circulation in the extratropical cap.
Zusammenfassung
Die kinetische Energie-Bilanz der Troposphäre zwischen Äquator und 60° N wird auf Grund klimatologischer Mittelwerte für die Winter- und Sommerjahreszeit untersucht. Die kräftige Hadley-Zirkulation im Winter spielt eine bedeutende Rolle in der Produktion von kinetischer Energie. Im Bereich der Hadley-Zelle übertrifft die Produktion die Vernichtung von kinetischer Energie um ungefähr 20·1020 erg·sec−1. Zeit-räumliche Störmechanismen, etwa in der Art wandernder Zyklonen, sind hauptsächlich verantwortlich für die Ausfuhr von der Nordflanke der Hadley-Zelle polwärts. Die starke Vernichtung von kinetischer Energie in außertropischen Breiten sowie der Energieverbrauch innerhalb der (indirekten) Ferrel-Zirkulation werden zu etwa einem Drittel durch Einfuhr von den Tropen ausgeglichen. Eine stark verminderte Produktion und Vernichtung von kinetischer Energie ist für die Sommerjahreszeit charakteristisch; die Energiezufuhr aus dem Bereich der Hadley-Zelle verliert dann an Bedeutung für die Aufrechterhaltung der Zirkulation in außertropischen Breiten.
Résumé
On examine ici le bilan de l'énergie cinétique de la troposphère entre l'équateur et le 60ème parallèle nord. Cette étude est faite pour l'hiver et l'été sur la base de moyennes climatologiques. La forte circulation de Hadley joue, en hiver, un rôle important dans la production d'énergie cinétique. Dans la région de la cellule de Hadley, la production d'énergie cinétique dépasse sa destruction d'environ 20·1020 erg·sec−1. Des mécanismes perturbateurs agissant aussi bien dans le temps que dans l'espace—comme par exemple les cyclones mobiles—sont les principaux agents responsables des transports du flanc nord des cellules de Hadley en direction du pôle. Les fortes destructions d'énergie cinétique dans les latitudes extra-tropicales comme la consommation d'énergie à l'intérieur de la circulation (indirecte) de Ferrel sont compensées pour un tiers environ par un apport des tropiques. L'été est caractŕisé par une production et une destruction fortement réduites de l'énergie cinétique. Un apport de cette énergie de la région de la cellule de Hadley perd alors de son importance pour le maintien de la circulation aux latitudes extra-tropicales.
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Hastenrath, S. On the role of meridional circulations in the kinetic energy budget of the northern Hemisphere. Arch. Met. Geoph. Biokl. A. 18, 1–16 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02247860
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02247860