Search from over 60,000 research works

Advanced Search

Marginal stability and predator-prey behaviour within storm tracks

[thumbnail of Open Access]
Preview
qj3014.pdf - Published Version (2MB) | Preview
Available under license: Creative Commons Attribution
[thumbnail of NovakAmbaumTailleuxOscillatorPropertiesRevised_GRAYSCALE.pdf]
Restricted to Repository staff only
Add to AnyAdd to TwitterAdd to FacebookAdd to LinkedinAdd to PinterestAdd to Email

Novak, L., Ambaum, M. H. P. orcid id iconORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6824-8083 and Tailleux, R. orcid id iconORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8998-9107 (2017) Marginal stability and predator-prey behaviour within storm tracks. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 143 (704). pp. 1421-1433. ISSN 1477-870X doi: 10.1002/qj.3014 (Part A)

Abstract/Summary

A predator-prey relationship between storm track intensity and growth rate is revealed in reanalysis data for the North Atlantic and North Pacific, as well as in an idealised global circulation model with a zonally asymmetric heating dipole. Averaging in the phase space of these two quantities reveals that both quantities oscillate on approximately monthly timescales. These oscillations occur due to quasi-periodic bursts in storm track activity that reduce excess baroclinicity and bring the flow back towards a state that is marginally stable to those bursts. Many detailed properties of these oscillations are reproduced well by a two-dimensional dynamical system, especially in respect of the North Atlantic storm track which is more zonally constrained compared to the North Pacific. It is predicted and observed that on average stronger storm events occur less frequently but grow on a shorter timescale. The results suggest that nonlinearly oscillating behaviour around a state of baroclinic neutrality is a general feature of localised storm tracks, and they offer a new perspective on the study of baroclinic instability.

Altmetric Badge

Item Type Article
URI https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/69102
Item Type Article
Refereed Yes
Divisions Science > School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences > Department of Meteorology
Publisher Royal Meteorological Society
Download/View statistics View download statistics for this item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

University Staff: Request a correction | Centaur Editors: Update this record

Search Google Scholar