Nonlinear balance on an equatorial beta plane

✍ Scribed by David J. Raymond

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1994
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 288 KB
• Volume: 120
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0035-9009
• DOI: 10.1002/qj.49712051513

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Extension of the nonlinear balance model to include the equator is examined here from a theoretical perspective. It is found that this model is ill‐posed, in that zonally symmetric equatorial Kelvin waves of arbitrary amplitude can occur. Two possible solutions are outlined. The zonally‐averaged zonal momentum equation provides auxiliary information that can be imposed on the flow. This equation can be solved simultaneously with the other parts of the problem. Alternatively, when small, isolated disturbances can be considered to have a negligible effect on the mean flow; one can simply assume that zonal means remain unchanged.