Abstract
A hydrodynamic model of a meteorological front has been constructed. This model is applicable to mature fronts which do not experience any conspicuous changes in intensity and shape and progress with approximately constant speed. The model considers cold and warm air masses, which are in contact along an interface and move above the horizontal earth under the influence of a given geostrophic wind. The closed-form solution of the problem incorporating (to a certain degree of approximation) the surface layer of atmosphere and allowing for the atmospheric turbulence has been obtained. On the basis of this solution, the global shape of the idealized frontal surface separating cold and warm air masses and the structure of the air flows in the vicinity of the front can be determined. The solution permits classification of mature fronts in terms of only two basic dimensionless parameters. The model is evaluated qualitatively by comparing some characteristics of the model with those observed for actual fronts. The comparison shows that the model provides a rational basis for interpreting observations and classification of fronts.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 507-524 |
Number of pages | 18 |
Journal | Tellus, Series A: Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography |
Volume | 50 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1 Jan 1998 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oceanography
- Atmospheric Science