Original scientific paper

A Theory of Gravity Wave Absorption By Boundary Layers

Ronald B. Smith ; Yale University, New Haven, CT
Qingfang Jiang ; University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Monterey, CA
James D. Doyle ; Naval Research Laboratory, Monterey, CA

Abstract

A one-layer frictional model of the boundary layer is proposed to explain the nature of gravity wave absorption seen in numerical simulations. The key result is that friction causes the phase of the BL winds to shift upstream. The associated divergence in the BL winds modulates the BL thickness in way that allows the down-going gravity wave to be absorbed. To capture the BL effect, the reflection coefficient must be considered a complex number. In a lee wave situation, the influence of the boundary layer is to decay the wave amplitude and reduce its wavelength.

Keywords

boundary layers; gravity waves

Hrčak ID:

64631

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/64631

Publication date:

15.12.2005.

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