Baroclinic instability and isentropic slope

Abstract

The wavelength of maximum baroclinic instability (WMI), maximum growth rate (MGR), phase velocities, and other quantities, are computed for an atmosphere with an internal 100-mb layer having various shears and lapse rates and positioned at various levels in a baroclinically unstable troposphere. It is found that the WMI, MGR, and other properties are more closely related to slope of the isentropes, Sθ, in the layer than to Richardson number, Ri, or to shear and lapse rate individually. The results for the layer positioned in the lower, middle and upper troposphere are similar but show systematic variations. -from Author