Abstract
The dynamics of mesoscale circulations of a stably stratified flow forced by both low-level and elevated heat sources or sinks is reviewed. The mathematical problems of prescribed diabatic heating in a continuously stratified flow have been solved by several authors and have been shown to be useful in understanding the dynamics of various mesoscale phenomena which commonly occur in the terrestrial atmosphere. In this paper, we review a relatively wider variety of problems and emphasize more the basic dynamics. In part I, we discuss the responses of a stably stratified uniform flow to a prescribed thermal forcing. The governing equations, energy equation, momentum transport, dispersion relation, and various wave regimes and properties are discussed. Mathematical methods for solving both steady and transient flows over a meso-γ scale heat source are presented. The applications of the mathematical solutions to problems of heat island, orographic rain, moist convection, and gravity waves traveling on inversions are also discussed.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1-32 |
| Number of pages | 32 |
| Journal | Proceedings of the National Science Council, Republic of China, Part A: Physical Science and Engineering |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| State | Published - Jan 1994 |
| Externally published | Yes |