Diagnosis of ageostrophic circulations in a two-dimensional primitive equation model of frontogenesis.

Abstract

Diagnoses are presented of the transverse ageostrophic circulation patterns for two cases from a two-dimensional primitive equation model of frontogenesis forced by a combination of confluence and horizontal shear. The cold advection case (the specified alongfront potential temperature gradient results in differential cold advection by the upper-level jet) realistically simulates upper-level frontogenesis in response to tilting by a cross-front gradient of subsidence. The warm advection case features a frontal system spanning the troposphere, which develops in response to differential horizontal advection. -from Authors