NCTAM papers, National Congress of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Japan
The 60th Japan National Congress for Theoretical and Applied Mechanics
Session ID : OS17-01
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OS17
Idealized numerical experiment of polar lows
*Wataru YanaseHiroshi Niino
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Abstract
Polar lows are meso-scale cyclones that develop over the high-latitude oceans in winter. They exhibit various cloud patterns in satellite imagery, and have complicated development mechanisms. In this study, a non-hydrostatic model developed in the Japan Meteorological Agency is used for an idealized numerical experiment to clarify the relation between environmental field and development mechanisms of polar lows. Condensation heating and sea surface heat fluxes are considered in the experiments, and environmental baroclinicity (horizontal gradient of temperature) is given as a variable parameter. When the baroclinicity is weak, a small axisymmetric vortex with a spiral-shaped cloud pattern develops. As the baroclinicity is increased, the axisymmetry is gradually broken, and a large vortex with comma-shaped cloud pattern develops. The relation between the environmental baroclinicity and cloud pattern is consistent with observation.
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© 2011 The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers
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