An Investigation of Coherent Tropopause Disturbances Using a High Resolution Global Model

• Other Authors: Waller, James Scott (authoraut)
• Format: Others
• Language: English; English
• Published: Florida State University
• Subjects: Oceanography; Atmospheric sciences; Meteorology
• Online Access: http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/FSU_migr_etd-1335

Coherent Tropopause Disturbances (CTD's) have been observed to play a central role in both extratropical cyclogenesis and the dynamics of jet streaks. Recent observational studies have quantified the existence of CTD's by locating potential temperature minima on a constant potential vorticity surface that is representative of the dynamic tropopause. This study applies a similar approach, but to a data set from a high-resolution global model (the Community Climate Model, Version 3). Application of an objective identification and tracking algorithm, along with several statistical calculations involving potential temperature on the 2.0 PVU surface, with statistics of outgoing longwave radiation, indicate that the CCM3 is a tool that may yield valuable insight into the dynamical interactions that determine the origin, growth and lifecycles of CTD's. === A Thesis Submitted to the Department of Meteorology in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science. === Spring Semester, 2006. === March 28, 2006. === CTD, Coherent Tropopause Disturbances, Diabatic Potential Vorticity, Jet Amplification, Jet Dynamics, Tropopause, Potential Vorticity, Vortex === Includes bibliographical references. === Philip Cunningham, Professor Directing Thesis; Robert Hart, Committee Member; T. N. Krishnamurti, Committee Member; Paul Reasor, Committee Member.