Barotropic Dynamics Associated with Storm Tracks

9525977 Lee This project will explore important aspects of midlatitude storm track dynamics that heretofore have received relatively little attention. Understanding of the dynamics of storm tracks is critical to the improvement extended range forecasting and short-term climate. Three characteristics of atmospheric flow that affect storm track formation and variability will be explored: (1) the effects of background barotropic deformation, (2) the relevance of linear, barotropic Rossby wave guides, and (3) the role of wave breaking of midlatitude synoptic-scale waves. The results of these studies will guide future parameterizations of transient eddy momentum fluxes. The study will employed both observational analyses and a hierarchy of linear and non-linear models. ??