Linearized Tropopause Dynamics and Cyclone Development

Abstract

A preliminary investigation into the dynamical effects produced by the tropopause upon a mid-latitude wave cyclone is described. This article describes linear effects since the various structures of a fixed tropopause are examined. In general, the solutions are sensitive to changes in tropopause structure only when they have large amplitude in the tropopause vicinity or the forcing for the problem is significantly altered by the tropopause structure. The forcing is greatest at the bottom boundary and interior tropopause interface. The basic current contains an internal jet. Many characteristic properties of this jet were found in a less sophisticated antecedent study where the velocity maximum occurred at the top boundary. This research forms the basis for future inquiry into nonlinear tropopause dynamics.