The diurnal cycle and the meridional extent of the tropics

Paul A. Milewski; Esteban G. Tabak

doi:10.1016/j.physd.2010.10.006

The diurnal cycle and the meridional extent of the tropics

Paul A. Milewski, Esteban G. Tabak

Eberly College of Science

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

An explanation is proposed for the meridional extent of the Hadley cells: the diurnal waves forced by solar heating trapped between -30°and 30°. These baroclinic waves, we propose, give rise to the daily nature of tropical meteorology, and ultimately to the intensified mixing and circulation associated with the Hadley cells and the shape of the tropopause. This conceptual explanation is validated with basic scaling arguments and with two diurnally forced one-layer models: One linear and the other nonlinear, the latter with a simple closure for mixing and entrainment by breaking waves.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	233-240
Number of pages	8
Journal	Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena
Volume	240
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physd.2010.10.006
State	Published - Jan 15 2011

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
Mathematical Physics
Condensed Matter Physics
Applied Mathematics

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10.1016/j.physd.2010.10.006

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AB - An explanation is proposed for the meridional extent of the Hadley cells: the diurnal waves forced by solar heating trapped between -30°and 30°. These baroclinic waves, we propose, give rise to the daily nature of tropical meteorology, and ultimately to the intensified mixing and circulation associated with the Hadley cells and the shape of the tropopause. This conceptual explanation is validated with basic scaling arguments and with two diurnally forced one-layer models: One linear and the other nonlinear, the latter with a simple closure for mixing and entrainment by breaking waves.

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The diurnal cycle and the meridional extent of the tropics

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