Gravity waves, dynamical resistance, and forcing efficiency

Abstract

The effect of the dynamical response associated with high-frequency gravity waves on the total energy generated by imposed heating is examined in a 2D linear compressible model. The work performed by waves against a sustained forcing is defined as the dynamical resistance. The dynamical resistance is minimized and forcing efficiency maximized for basic-state and forcing configurations that yield a wave response whose phase varies minimally relative to the forcing. When generated against a forcing-relative background flow, waves that have a deep vertical scale relative to the forcing depth impose less resistance than waves of a shallow vertical scale. The efficiency of an ensemble of forcing elements is shown to differ significantly from that corresponding to an isolated forcing. If the forcing elements are all of the same sign (e.g., are all warmings), then the efficiency increases with decreasing separation between elements. © 2010 American Meteorological Society.