The Effects of Curvature and Viscosity on Baroclinic Instability - A Two-Layer Model

摘要

A linear stability analysis of a baroclinic zonal current contained between two parallel rigid boundaries is presented. Curvature is included by performing the analysis on a β-plane and viscosity by allowing for the effects of Ekman layers on the rigid bound¬aries. A two-layer model is used. This calculation was carried out to assist in the design of a spherical model of the general circulation of the Earth's atmosphere for Spacelab. In the low-gravity environment on an orbiting vehicle, a dominant radial dielectric body force, analogous to planetary gravity, can be achieved over a volume of liquid held between two concentric spheres. The results show the Eady short wavelength cutoff, and long wavelength cutoffs due to Ekman damping and curvature.