The effect of clear-air turbulence on a model of the general circulation of the atmosphere

Mixing coefficients due to clear-air turbulence are estimated from turbulence observations from aircraft, and from large-scale dissipation estimates from the large-scale energy budgets. Maximum coefficients occur near middle-latitude jet streams, and eddy viscosity there is of order of 10 sq m/sec;...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Heck, W. J., Panofsky, H. A., Bender, M. A.
Language:unknown
Published: 1977
Subjects:
47
Online Access:http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19770058282
Description
Summary:Mixing coefficients due to clear-air turbulence are estimated from turbulence observations from aircraft, and from large-scale dissipation estimates from the large-scale energy budgets. Maximum coefficients occur near middle-latitude jet streams, and eddy viscosity there is of order of 10 sq m/sec; eddy conductivity is estimated to be about ten times smaller. These coefficients are introduced into the 12-layer general circulation model of the National Center of Atmospheric Research. They produce an apparently significant, though small reduction in maximum speed of the jet, and a reduction in eddy energy. Further, the stratospheric polar-night jet is produced at about the correct location with about the correct intensity.