ON THE THEORY OF THE WINTER-AVERAGE PERTURBATIONS IN THE TROPOSPHERE AND STRATOSPHERE

Abstract

A general solution is obtained for forced, stationary, quasi-geostrophic perturbations in an atmosphere having the main zonal-average characteristics of the winter troposphere and stratosphere. Special solutions along 45° N. latitude are obtained for idealized representations of forcing due to internal sources and sinks of heat and due to lower boundary airflow over topography. The results show how the solutions depend on the spatial scale of the disturbances. For example, on the long-wave side of a critical vector wave number corresponding to quasi-resonance, the disturbances forced by internal heating tilt eastward with height thereby transporting heat southward, and tend to increase in amplitude above the tropopause into the high stratosphere. The reverse is true for waves smaller than critical. Comparisons with observations suggest that the real atmospheric mean waves are combinations of modes from the two regimes. The energetics of the solutions are discussed.