Planetary waves

The possibility that the climatic future might feature a change in frequency of weather extremes underscores the desirability for climate models capable of predicting the future spectrum of prevailing circulation patterns. Weather extremes such as drought or excessive cold are the products of certain persistent (blocking) planetary wave patterns. In fact, it is reasonable to assume that past climatic... 

These studies stimulated the investigation of the use of TOMS data for the determination of the tropospheric ozone column amount by related techniques. Hudson, Thompson and co-workers have developed and refined a technique called the tropical tropospheric ozone (TTO) method (Hudson et al., 1995 Kim et al., 1996 Hudson and Thompson, 1998). This technique utilises a Fourier analysis to identify the range of latitudes for which the method is applicable by using the recognition of a planetary wave pattern to estimate stratospheric and background tropospheric ozone. 

Grytsai A. Grytsai Z. Evtushevsky A. and Milinevsky G. (2005). Interannual variability of planetary waves in the ozone layer at 65 degrees S. Int. JRemote Sens., 26(16), 3377-3387. 

Figure 3.10. Global distribution of the potential vorticity on the 850 K isentropic surface during a wintertime planetary wave event. The shaded region over the Pacific ocean with a weak gradient is characterized by nonlinear wave dissipation and strong quasi-horizontal mixing. This region is referred to as the surf zone . Wind vectors are also indicated and provide information about large-scale transport. Courtesy of A. O Neill, University of Reading, UK.

The special case of zonal asymmetries should also be mentioned. The vector wind is generally aligned along latitude circles in summer, but in winter the influence of planetary waves can cause the vector wind to flow across latitude lines (see Figure 3.13). Under these zonally asymmetric conditions, the local wind speed in the meridional direction is much greater than the mean meridional wind. Indeed, winds of zonal speeds (tens of meters per second) can flow across latitude lines, and any species exhibiting a latitude gradient will be affected. 

Figure 3.22. Schematic diagram of the idealized planetary wave structure and the resulting eddy transport of heat. Adapted from Matsuno (1980).

For planetary waves in the stratosphere, quasi-geostrophic scaling can be applied, in which case expressions (3.70a) and (3.70b) reduce to... 

Figure 3.26. Zonally averaged distribution of hydrogen fluoride (HF) mixing ratio (in ppbv) measured by the HALOE instrument on UARS. The heavy solid arrows denote the mean meridional transport and the horizontal arrows show the location of strong quasi-horizontal mixing by planetary waves. Courtesy of W. Randel, NCAR, 2001.

Andrews, D.G., and M.E. McIntyre, Planetary waves in horizontal and vertical shear The generalized Eliassen-Palm relation and the zonal mean acceleration. J Atmos Sci 33, 2031, 1976. 

Garcia, R.R., and D.L. Hartmann, The role of planetary waves in the maintenance of the zonally averaged ozone distribution of the upper stratosphere. J Atmos Sci 37, 2248, 1980. 

Geller, M.A., and J.C. Alpert, Planetary wave coupling between the troposphere and the middle atmosphere as a possible sun-weather mechanism. J Atmos Sci 37, 1197, 1980. 

Holton, J.R., and W.M. Wehrbein, The role of forced planetary waves in the annual cycle of the zonal mean circulation of the middle atmosphere. J Atmos Sci 37, 1968, 1980. 

Juckes, M.N., and M.E. McIntyre, A high-resolution, one layer model of breaking planetary waves in the stratosphere. Nature 328, 590, 1987. 

Kawahira, K., A two-dimensional model for ozone changes by planetary waves in the stratosphere, I. Formulation and the effect of temperature waves on the zonal mean ozone concentration. J Meteorol Soc Japan 60, 1058, 1982. 

Matsuno, T., Vertical propagation of stationary planetary waves in the Northern hemisphere. J Atmos Sci 21, 871, 1970. 

Matsuno, T., Lagrangian motion of air parcels in the stratosphere in the presence of planetary waves. Pure Appl Geophys 118, 189, 1980. 

Pyle, J. A., and C. F. Rogers, Stratospheric transport by stationary planetary waves — The importance of chemical processes. Quart J Roy Meteorol Soc 106, 421, 1980. 

Randel, W.J., J.C. Gille, A.E. Roche, J.B. Kumer, J.L. Mergenthaler, J.W. Waters, E.F. Fishbein, and W.A. Lahoz, Stratospheric transport from the tropics to middle latitudes by planetary-wave mixing. Nature 365, 533, 1993. 

Rood, R.B., and M.R. Schoeberl, A mechanistic model of Eulerian, Lagrangian mean, and Lagrangian ozone transport by steady planetary waves. J Geophys Res 88, 5208, 1983. 

Fusco, A.C., and M L. Salby, Interannual variations of total ozone and their relationship to variations of planetary wave activity. J Clim 12, 1619, 1999. 

Labitzke, K., K. Paetzoldt, and H. Schwentek, Planetary waves in the strato- and mesosphere during the western European winter anomaly campaign 1975/76 and their relation to ionospheric absorption. J Atmos Terr Phys 4.1, 1149, 1979. 

Plate 9. Interannual variability in the Antarctic ozone hole. The figures compare the ozone column abundance observed on September 24 in 2001 and in 2002. In 2001 as in most previous years of the last 2 decades, the hole was centered approximately over the South Pole with low ozone values over the Antarctic continent. In 2002, a strong wave-2 planetary wave disturbed the polar vortex and produced a very peculiar distribution of the ozone column. The warming associated with this event led to limited ozone depletion and a disappearance of the ozone hole at the end of September. From NASA. 

H. Volland Atmospheric Tidal and Planetary Waves. 1988 ISBN 90-277-2630-2... 

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