Some Non-Quasigeostrophic Effects in Linear Baroclinic Waves

Abstract

Non-quasigeostrophic effects in unstable baroclinic waves, defined as differences between solutions in primitive equation and quasigeostrophic models due to terms in the governing equations that are neglected in the quasigeostrophic model, are examined. It is determined that these non-quasigeostrophic effects produce significant asymmetries in a baroclinic wave, as compared to the symmetry that would be expected if that wave were governed by the quasigeostrophic equations, even when the Rossby number is relatively small. These asymmetries result in significant differences in some of the eddy fluxes in a primitive equation model as compared to a quasigeostrophic model. This was found to be especially true for u?v&prime, where even the sign was different in certain regions.