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UBC Theses and Dissertations

Atmospheric wave-mean flow interactions Quinn, Declan

Abstract

The interactions between the zonally-averaged flow and the various eddy circulations in the atmosphere are studied using NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis data. The contributions to zonal- and potential temperature-tendency and zonal kinetic energy production due to both the Ferrel and Hadley circulations are determined. Inferences are then made regarding the processes which affect the strong cores of the jet stream and the forms of zonallyaveraged models of the atmosphere that are appropriate for studies of this type. It will be shown that there is considerable wave-mean flow interaction in the atmosphere, with the circulation induced by eddy motions being primarily responsible for the maintainance and seasonal variations of the zonally-averaged jet core. This study also provides a repository of derived atmospheric quantities for the years 1989-1993.

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