Large Mesoscale Convection and Sea Breeze Circulation. Part I: Linear Stability Analysis

Abstract

The interactions between the sea breeze circulation and trapeze instability are investigated using a set of linearized equations. The results show that mesoscale waves associated with trapeze instability can be easily triggered by the sea breeze circulation and can propagate far inland, but no mesoscale waves are observed over the ocean. The wavelength is a few hundred kilometers. The period of the waves, which depends on the Coriolis parameter, eddy viscosity and the strength of land-sea contrast, can be either one day or two days, or a combination of one and two days. The waves obtained here are similar to the cloud bands observed in West Africa and South America.