Some properties of hydrodynamic instability in a quasi-geostrophic atmosphere

Abstract

The baroclinic hydrodynamic instability of zonal flow has been studied by a two-level model which takes into account the influence of a barotropic, nonlinear shear in a quasigeostrophic atmosphere. There are regions where a horizontal wind shear supports the baroclinic amplification of an unstable wave. It can be found near the inflexional part of the zonal flow meridional profile.