The nonlinear dynamics of the sea breeze

Date

2004-11-15

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Publisher

Texas A&M University

Abstract

The response of the land and sea breeze circulation to two highly simplified dynamical models is presented. The first dynamical model is the explicit specification of an oscillating interior heat source analogous to that from Rotunno (1983). Emphasis is placed on the variation of the response with heating amplitude and latitude. In addition, a weakly nonlinear analysis focuses on the dynamic forcing of nonlinear features such as a semi-diurnal gravity wave, fronts, and asymmetry in the magnitude of onshore and offshore flow. One surprising result is the identification of a cycle-mean surface divergence pattern at both 0? and 45?. At 45?, this divergence pattern is accompanied by a cycle mean shore-parallel response due to the Earth's rotation.
The second dynamical model is the explicit specification of an oscillating surface heat flux. Again, comparison is made between simulations at different heating amplitudes, and between simulations at different latitudes. To address changes in the solution due to the heating method itself, comparison is made between solutions from the surface heating method and solutions from the interior heating method. Finally, solutions across the planetary continuum are explored for critical latitude dependence in high-amplitude simulations.

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