Book Description

The question of the source of energy for the changes in the mid-winter stratosphere circulation pattern associated with the sudden warming phenomenon is examined. A set of energy equations is derived which is applicable to the stratosphere as an open system. The terms of these equations are interpreted as representing energy conversions and energy fluxes. The terms are evaluated for January 1958, for the mass from 100 mb to 10 mb and from 10N to 90N. Within the mass studied, the energy conversions acted in the same direction throughout the month, but increased in magnitude prior to and during the stratosphere warming. Energy was lost due to differential diabatic heating but was gained, at the expense of tropospheric energy, through a correlation between vertical velocity and geopotential. The apparent coupling with the troposphere is investigated further through harmonic analysis and evidence is found for vertically propagating long waves. A simple model is deduced from the data to explain certain phenomena in the stratosphere. (Author).