Abstract
In this note, we investigate analytically how the bifurcation diagram of Pedlosky (1981)'s barotropic model is modified by introducing meridional structure into the forced basic zonal flow. If the basic zonal flow deviates from a uniform one to some degree, then two Hopf bifurcation points emerge (i.e., periodic solutions are generated) on the steady solution curve corresponding to blocking flows and steady solutions between them lose their stability. Moreover, the diagram may be qualitatively altered as the basic zonal flow further deviates from a uniform one.
