New nonlinear mechanisms of midlatitude atmospheric low-frequency variability

A. E. Sterk; R. Vitolo; H. W. Broer; C. Simo; H. A. Dijkstra

doi:10.1016/j.physd.2010.02.003

New nonlinear mechanisms of midlatitude atmospheric low-frequency variability

A. E. Sterk^*, R. Vitolo, H. W. Broer, C. Simo, H. A. Dijkstra

^*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

This paper studies the dynamical mechanisms potentially involved in the so-called atmospheric low-frequency variability, occurring at midlatitudes in the Northern Hemisphere This phenomenon is characterised by recurrent non-propagating and temporally persistent flow patterns, with typical spatial and temporal scales of 6000-10000 km and 10-50 days, respectively

We study a low-order model derived from the 2-layer shallow-water equations on a beta-plane channel The main ingredients of the low-order model are a zonal flow, a planetary scale wave, orography, and a baroclinic-like forcing

A systematic analysis of the dynamics of the low-order model is performed using techniques and concepts from dynamical systems theory Orography height (h(0)) and magnitude of zonal wind forcing (U(0)) are used as control parameters to study the bifurcations of equilibria and periodic orbits Along two curves of Hopf bifurcations an equilibrium loses stability (U(0) >= 12 5 m/s) and gives birth to two distinct families of periodic orbits These periodic orbits bifurcate into strange attractors along three routes to chaos period doubling cascades, breakdown of 2-tori by homo- and heteroclinic bifurcations, or intermittency (U(0) >= 14 5 m/s and h(0) >= 800 m)

The observed attractors exhibit spatial and temporal low-frequency patterns comparing well with those observed in the atmosphere For h(0) = 800 m, the period is longer (30-60 days) and patterns in the vorticity field are non-propagating. The dynamics on the strange attractors are associated with low-frequency variability the vorticity fields show weakening and strengthening of non-propagating planetary waves on time scales of 10-200 days The spatio-temporal characteristics are "inherited" (by intermittency) from the two families of periodic orbits and are detected in a relatively large region of the parameter plane This scenario provides a characterisation of low-frequency variability in terms of intermittency due to bifurcations of waves (C) 2010 Elsevier B V All rights reserved

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	702-718
Number of pages	17
Journal	Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena
Volume	239
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physd.2010.02.003
Publication status	Published - 15-May-2010

Keywords

Atmospheric dynamics
Low-frequency variability
Low-order models
Bifurcations
Intermittency
Routes to chaos
PROBABILITY DENSITY DISTRIBUTION
SADDLE-NODE BIFURCATION
STATIONARY ROSSBY WAVES
STATISTICAL PROPERTIES
DYNAMICAL-SYSTEMS
PERSISTENT ANOMALIES
MULTIPLE EQUILIBRIA
NORTHERN-HEMISPHERE
PLANETARY-WAVES
CUBICAL CAVITY

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@article{ebca05076af34c359320cbc73e79a75b,

title = "New nonlinear mechanisms of midlatitude atmospheric low-frequency variability",

abstract = "This paper studies the dynamical mechanisms potentially involved in the so-called atmospheric low-frequency variability, occurring at midlatitudes in the Northern Hemisphere This phenomenon is characterised by recurrent non-propagating and temporally persistent flow patterns, with typical spatial and temporal scales of 6000-10000 km and 10-50 days, respectivelyWe study a low-order model derived from the 2-layer shallow-water equations on a beta-plane channel The main ingredients of the low-order model are a zonal flow, a planetary scale wave, orography, and a baroclinic-like forcingA systematic analysis of the dynamics of the low-order model is performed using techniques and concepts from dynamical systems theory Orography height (h(0)) and magnitude of zonal wind forcing (U(0)) are used as control parameters to study the bifurcations of equilibria and periodic orbits Along two curves of Hopf bifurcations an equilibrium loses stability (U(0) >= 12 5 m/s) and gives birth to two distinct families of periodic orbits These periodic orbits bifurcate into strange attractors along three routes to chaos period doubling cascades, breakdown of 2-tori by homo- and heteroclinic bifurcations, or intermittency (U(0) >= 14 5 m/s and h(0) >= 800 m)The observed attractors exhibit spatial and temporal low-frequency patterns comparing well with those observed in the atmosphere For h(0) = 800 m, the period is longer (30-60 days) and patterns in the vorticity field are non-propagating. The dynamics on the strange attractors are associated with low-frequency variability the vorticity fields show weakening and strengthening of non-propagating planetary waves on time scales of 10-200 days The spatio-temporal characteristics are {"}inherited{"} (by intermittency) from the two families of periodic orbits and are detected in a relatively large region of the parameter plane This scenario provides a characterisation of low-frequency variability in terms of intermittency due to bifurcations of waves (C) 2010 Elsevier B V All rights reserved",

keywords = "Atmospheric dynamics, Low-frequency variability, Low-order models, Bifurcations, Intermittency, Routes to chaos, PROBABILITY DENSITY DISTRIBUTION, SADDLE-NODE BIFURCATION, STATIONARY ROSSBY WAVES, STATISTICAL PROPERTIES, DYNAMICAL-SYSTEMS, PERSISTENT ANOMALIES, MULTIPLE EQUILIBRIA, NORTHERN-HEMISPHERE, PLANETARY-WAVES, CUBICAL CAVITY",

author = "Sterk, {A. E.} and R. Vitolo and Broer, {H. W.} and C. Simo and Dijkstra, {H. A.}",

note = "Relation: http://www.rug.nl/informatica/onderzoek/bernoulli Rights: University of Groningen, Johann Bernoulli Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science",

year = "2010",

month = may,

day = "15",

doi = "10.1016/j.physd.2010.02.003",

language = "English",

volume = "239",

pages = "702--718",

journal = "Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena",

issn = "0167-2789",

publisher = "Elsevier",

number = "10",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - New nonlinear mechanisms of midlatitude atmospheric low-frequency variability

AU - Sterk, A. E.

AU - Vitolo, R.

AU - Broer, H. W.

AU - Simo, C.

AU - Dijkstra, H. A.

N1 - Relation: http://www.rug.nl/informatica/onderzoek/bernoulli Rights: University of Groningen, Johann Bernoulli Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science

PY - 2010/5/15

Y1 - 2010/5/15

N2 - This paper studies the dynamical mechanisms potentially involved in the so-called atmospheric low-frequency variability, occurring at midlatitudes in the Northern Hemisphere This phenomenon is characterised by recurrent non-propagating and temporally persistent flow patterns, with typical spatial and temporal scales of 6000-10000 km and 10-50 days, respectivelyWe study a low-order model derived from the 2-layer shallow-water equations on a beta-plane channel The main ingredients of the low-order model are a zonal flow, a planetary scale wave, orography, and a baroclinic-like forcingA systematic analysis of the dynamics of the low-order model is performed using techniques and concepts from dynamical systems theory Orography height (h(0)) and magnitude of zonal wind forcing (U(0)) are used as control parameters to study the bifurcations of equilibria and periodic orbits Along two curves of Hopf bifurcations an equilibrium loses stability (U(0) >= 12 5 m/s) and gives birth to two distinct families of periodic orbits These periodic orbits bifurcate into strange attractors along three routes to chaos period doubling cascades, breakdown of 2-tori by homo- and heteroclinic bifurcations, or intermittency (U(0) >= 14 5 m/s and h(0) >= 800 m)The observed attractors exhibit spatial and temporal low-frequency patterns comparing well with those observed in the atmosphere For h(0) = 800 m, the period is longer (30-60 days) and patterns in the vorticity field are non-propagating. The dynamics on the strange attractors are associated with low-frequency variability the vorticity fields show weakening and strengthening of non-propagating planetary waves on time scales of 10-200 days The spatio-temporal characteristics are "inherited" (by intermittency) from the two families of periodic orbits and are detected in a relatively large region of the parameter plane This scenario provides a characterisation of low-frequency variability in terms of intermittency due to bifurcations of waves (C) 2010 Elsevier B V All rights reserved

AB - This paper studies the dynamical mechanisms potentially involved in the so-called atmospheric low-frequency variability, occurring at midlatitudes in the Northern Hemisphere This phenomenon is characterised by recurrent non-propagating and temporally persistent flow patterns, with typical spatial and temporal scales of 6000-10000 km and 10-50 days, respectivelyWe study a low-order model derived from the 2-layer shallow-water equations on a beta-plane channel The main ingredients of the low-order model are a zonal flow, a planetary scale wave, orography, and a baroclinic-like forcingA systematic analysis of the dynamics of the low-order model is performed using techniques and concepts from dynamical systems theory Orography height (h(0)) and magnitude of zonal wind forcing (U(0)) are used as control parameters to study the bifurcations of equilibria and periodic orbits Along two curves of Hopf bifurcations an equilibrium loses stability (U(0) >= 12 5 m/s) and gives birth to two distinct families of periodic orbits These periodic orbits bifurcate into strange attractors along three routes to chaos period doubling cascades, breakdown of 2-tori by homo- and heteroclinic bifurcations, or intermittency (U(0) >= 14 5 m/s and h(0) >= 800 m)The observed attractors exhibit spatial and temporal low-frequency patterns comparing well with those observed in the atmosphere For h(0) = 800 m, the period is longer (30-60 days) and patterns in the vorticity field are non-propagating. The dynamics on the strange attractors are associated with low-frequency variability the vorticity fields show weakening and strengthening of non-propagating planetary waves on time scales of 10-200 days The spatio-temporal characteristics are "inherited" (by intermittency) from the two families of periodic orbits and are detected in a relatively large region of the parameter plane This scenario provides a characterisation of low-frequency variability in terms of intermittency due to bifurcations of waves (C) 2010 Elsevier B V All rights reserved

KW - Atmospheric dynamics

KW - Low-frequency variability

KW - Low-order models

KW - Bifurcations

KW - Intermittency

KW - Routes to chaos

KW - PROBABILITY DENSITY DISTRIBUTION

KW - SADDLE-NODE BIFURCATION

KW - STATIONARY ROSSBY WAVES

KW - STATISTICAL PROPERTIES

KW - DYNAMICAL-SYSTEMS

KW - PERSISTENT ANOMALIES

KW - MULTIPLE EQUILIBRIA

KW - NORTHERN-HEMISPHERE

KW - PLANETARY-WAVES

KW - CUBICAL CAVITY

U2 - 10.1016/j.physd.2010.02.003

DO - 10.1016/j.physd.2010.02.003

M3 - Article

SN - 0167-2789

VL - 239

SP - 702

EP - 718

JO - Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena

JF - Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena

IS - 10

ER -

New nonlinear mechanisms of midlatitude atmospheric low-frequency variability

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Keywords

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