Publication Abstracts

Knox 1997

Knox, J.A., 1997: Generalized nonlinear balance criteria and inertial stability. J. Atmos. Sci., 54, 967-985, doi:10.1175/1520-0469(1997)054<0967:GNBCAI>2.0.CO;2.

The connections between the concept of nonlinear balance and the classical criterion of inertial stability are explored in the context of historical work on this subject. New analytic results are derived establishing that ellipticity and inertial stability are, in general, separate and distinct measures of balanced flows, even in the case of gradient flow. In particular, nonlinear balance is violated more for weaker anticyclonic flows than is inertial balance. These conclusions are supported by analysis of observational data.

A hierarchy of nonlinear balance criteria is constructed, which ranges from ellipticity to "realizability" conditions first obtained by Petterssen and Kasahara. Expressions interrelating all the nonlinear balance criteria and inertial stability criteria are derived, clarifying the relationship between the Petterssen criterion, Kasahara's realizability, and inertial stability. The balance-criteria hierarchy is tested for cyclonic and anticyclonic conditions using a nonlinear inviscid f-plane trajectory model. The modeling results confirm the analytical ellipticity-inertial stability relationship. In addition, an intercomparison of balance criteria reveals that Pettersen's realizability (in the form derived here) is the most general and most physically interpretable balance criterion. The implications of this work for generaliztions of interial instability are briefly explored.

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BibTeX Citation

@article{kn04000r,
  author={Knox, J. A.},
  title={Generalized nonlinear balance criteria and inertial stability},
  year={1997},
  journal={Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences},
  volume={54},
  pages={967--985},
  doi={10.1175/1520-0469(1997)054%3C0967%3AGNBCAI%3E2.0.CO;2},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - kn04000r
AU  - Knox, J. A.
PY  - 1997
TI  - Generalized nonlinear balance criteria and inertial stability
JA  - J. Atmos. Sci.
JO  - Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences
VL  - 54
SP  - 967
EP  - 985
DO  - 10.1175/1520-0469(1997)054%3C0967%3AGNBCAI%3E2.0.CO;2
ER  -

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