The eigenvalue equations of equatorial waves on a sphere

Yair De-Leon, Carynelisa Erlick, Nathan Paldor*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Zonally propagating wave solutions of the linearized shallow water equations (LSWE) in a zonal channel on the rotating spherical earth are constructed from numerical solutions of eigenvalue equations that yield the meridional variation of the waves' amplitudes and the phase speeds of these waves. An approximate Schr̈odinger equation, whose potential depends on one parameter only, is derived, and this equation yields analytic expressions for the dispersion relations and for the meridional structure of the waves' amplitudes in two asymptotic cases. These analytic solutions validate the accuracy of the numerical solutions of the exact eigenvalue equation. Our results show the existence of Kelvin, Poincaŕe and Rossby waves that are harmonic for large radius of deformation. For small radius of deformation, the latter two waves vary as Hermite functions. In addition, our results show that the mixed mode of the planar theory (a meridional wavenumber zero mode that behaves as a Rossby wave for large zonal wavenumbers and as a Poincaŕe wave for small ones) does not exist on a sphere; instead, the first Rossby mode and the first westward propagating Poincaŕe mode are separated by the anti-Kelvin mode for all values of the zonal wavenumber.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)62-70
Number of pages9
JournalTellus, Series A: Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography
Volume62
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2010

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The eigenvalue equations of equatorial waves on a sphere'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this