Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Global Angular Momentum Fluxes in Height Coordinates

Joseph Egger Meteorologisches Institut, Universität München, Munich, Germany

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Klaus-Peter Hoinka Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre, DLR, Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany

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Print Publication:
01 Aug 2011
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/2010MWR3514.1
Page(s):
2552–2560
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Abstract

While time and zonal mean budgets of axial angular momentum (AAM) have been presented in pressure coordinates and also in isentropic coordinates, AAM budgets in height coordinates have not been published yet. The results of such an analysis on the basis of the 40-yr European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Re-Analysis (ERA-40) winter data are presented in this paper, which includes explicitly evaluated vertical eddy fluxes of momentum and mass as new features. As expected, AAM fluxes related to the Hadley cell are dominant. Transient vertical AAM fluxes are directed upward at the midlatitudes. Transient mass transports are not negligible, while triple terms are unimportant. Problems with the global balance of torques acting at the surface are discussed as well as those of mass conservation.

Corresponding author address: Joseph Egger, Meteorological Institute, University of Munich, Theresienstr. 37, Munich 80333, Germany. E-mail: j.egger@lrz.uni-muenchen.de

Abstract

While time and zonal mean budgets of axial angular momentum (AAM) have been presented in pressure coordinates and also in isentropic coordinates, AAM budgets in height coordinates have not been published yet. The results of such an analysis on the basis of the 40-yr European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Re-Analysis (ERA-40) winter data are presented in this paper, which includes explicitly evaluated vertical eddy fluxes of momentum and mass as new features. As expected, AAM fluxes related to the Hadley cell are dominant. Transient vertical AAM fluxes are directed upward at the midlatitudes. Transient mass transports are not negligible, while triple terms are unimportant. Problems with the global balance of torques acting at the surface are discussed as well as those of mass conservation.

Corresponding author address: Joseph Egger, Meteorological Institute, University of Munich, Theresienstr. 37, Munich 80333, Germany. E-mail: j.egger@lrz.uni-muenchen.de
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