The influence of Antarctica on the momentum budget of the southern extratropics

Juckes, M. N., James, I. N. and Blackburn, M. (1994) The influence of Antarctica on the momentum budget of the southern extratropics. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 120 (518). pp. 1017-1044. ISSN 1477-870X doi: 10.1002/qj.49712051811

Abstract/Summary

The antarctic plateau acts as a strong heat sink for the global climate, cooling the atmosphere and radiating energy to space. A cold dense atmospheric boundary layer is formed. Strong surface winds are formed as the boundary layer drains off the plateau. These drainage winds and the eddy fluxes necessary to maintain them are analysed in a general circulation model (GCM). The drainage flow is well represented in the GCM. The associated mean meridional circulation is analysed in isentropic coordinates. The momentum budget over Antarctica reveals a balance between the Eliassen-Palm flux convergence and the Coriolis torque exerted by the mean meridional mass flux. Both vertical and horizontal components of the Eliassen-Palm flux contribute, the vertical component being the greater.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/34989
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Science > School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences > Department of Meteorology
Publisher	Royal Meteorological Society
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