Articles | Volume 5, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-5-87-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-5-87-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
01 Feb 2024
Research article |
| 01 Feb 2024
| 01 Feb 2024
The relation between Rossby wave-breaking events and low-level weather systems
Talia Tamarin-Brodsky
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Geophysics, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
Nili Harnik
Department of Geophysics, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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It has been suggested that resonant amplification of Rossby waves may be responsible for the occurrence of extreme weather. Given that the recent literature has produced some conflicting results in this regard, the current paper clarifies some fundamental aspects of Rossby wave resonance in an idealized framework.
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Atmospheric jets are a key component of the climate system and of our everyday lives. Indeed, they affect human activities by influencing the weather in many mid-latitude regions. However, we still lack a complete understanding of their dynamical properties. In this study, we try to relate the understanding gained in idealized computer simulations of the jets to our knowledge from observations of the real atmosphere.
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Short summary
Synoptic waves in the atmosphere tend to follow a typical Rossby wave lifecycle, involving a linear growth stage followed by nonlinear and irreversible Rossby wave breaking (RWB). Here we take a new approach to study RWB events and their fundamental relation to weather systems by combining a storm-tracking technique and an RWB detection algorithm. The synoptic-scale dynamics leading to RWB is then examined by analyzing time evolution composites of cyclones and anticyclones during RWB events.
Synoptic waves in the atmosphere tend to follow a typical Rossby wave lifecycle, involving a...
