Numerical solution of the vertical structure equation in the normal mode method.

Abstract

A systematic method of obtaining matching eigensolutions of the vertical structure equation of a multilayered stratified atmosphere was developed. The resultant eigensolutions were used to investigate the influence of the upper boundary condition, the judicious placement of the vertical grid levels and the relative accuracy of a finite-difference and a finite-element method in obtaining the discretized vertical normal mode functions. An important conclusion of this study is that in a discretized model, an inadquate grid resolution in the upper domain may result in considerable misrepresentation of the vertical structure functions even in the lower part of the domain for vertical modes higher than mode 5. -from Authors