Vertical Momentum and Heat Transport Induced by Wave Breaking and Cloud Feedback Heating in the Venusian Atmosphere

Abstract

Upward convective heat fluxes in the Venusian low-stability layer (~55 km) become larger as wave-forcing and heating amplitudes are increased in 5.5-day wave and cloud feedback heating (CFH) experiments. In contrast, the upward heat flux is weak and insensitive to the wave-forcing amplitude in 8-day wave experiments, because the forced wave predominantly breaks below the low-stability layer. The planetary-scale wave breaking induces downward heat flux at 45-50 km. In addition, convective penetration produces downward heat fluxes near the top and bottom of the low-stability layer when the convection is fully developed. Above 60 km, vertically propagating gravity waves emitted from the low-stability layer have negative momentum fluxes. The maximum downward eddy momentum flux is proportional to the upward heat flux in the low-stability layer. Fine structures of atmospheric static stability vary between wave propagation, convective penetration, and planetary-scale wave breaking.