Hierarchical tropical cloud systems in an analog shallow-water model

Abstract

The authors here report on the results of simulations with a model based on a simple nonlinear analog of the shallow-water equations. The model consists of a troposphere represented by single values of vertical velocity and temperature and in which the horizontal motions are assumed always to represent the first baroclinic mode. The troposphere overlies a subcloud layer of fixed depth in which the evolution of moist entropy is predicted. The model is driven by specified values of radiative cooling and sea surface temperature, and a Newtonian relaxation of the surface wind toward a specified value. The system is horizontally homogeneous except for an anisotropy owing to the equatorial β effect. -from Authors