AN EXAMPLE OF 2-MODE INTERACTION IN A 3-LAYER MODEL OF BAROCLINIC INSTABILITY

Journal article

A three-layer model of baroclinic instability on a β-plane with Ekman layers on the interfaces and upper and lower bounding surfaces, is shown to support 2 unstable modes, having the same wavenumber but different phase speeds, on the stability boundary, when the basic state comprises non-linear shear and density profiles. Evolution equations are derived using multiple scales and are shown to transform to the canonical equations for a co-dimension 2 double Hopf bifurcation. The implications of this are discussed. © 1982.

Authors: Moroz, I; Brindley, J

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: PHYSICS LETTERS A
• Volume: 91
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 226-230
• Publication date: 1982-01-01
• DOI: 10.1016/0375-9601(82)90477-7
• ISSN: 0375-9601
• Language: English