Toward a Physically Based Gravity Wave Source Parameterization in a General Circulation Model

• DOI: 10.1175/2009jas3112.1
• Publication Date: 2009-07-30T14:24:09Z
• Authors: Jadwiga H. Richter; Fabrizio Sassi; Rolando R. Garcia
• Keywords: Orography; Atmospheric Circulation; Atmospheric models; Atmospheric wave; Atmospheric models

Abstract Middle atmospheric general circulation models (GCMs) must employ a parameterization for small-scale gravity waves (GWs). Such parameterizations typically make very simple assumptions about wave sources, such as uniform distribution in space and time or an arbitrarily specified GW source function. The authors present configuration of the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM) that replaces spectrum with parameterizations. For nonorographic frontal system convective are used. These link generation to tropospheric quantities calculated by GCM provide model-consistent representation. With new parameterization, reasonable middle can be obtained is better several respects than generated typical specification. In particular, interannual NH stratospheric variability significantly improved result source-oriented parameterization. It also shown addition estimate mountain stress due unresolved orography has large effect on frequency sudden warmings stratosphere changing propagation stationary planetary into polar vortex.