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Diagnosing the angular momentum fluxes that drive the quasi-biennial oscillation

dc.contributor.authorHughes, Ann-Casey, author
dc.contributor.authorRandall, David A., advisor
dc.contributor.authorHurrell, James, committee member
dc.contributor.authorOprea, Iuliana, committee member
dc.date.accessioned2024-01-01T11:23:53Z
dc.date.available2024-01-01T11:23:53Z
dc.date.issued2023
dc.description.abstractThe quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) is a descending pattern of alternating easterly and westerly equatorial stratospheric winds that is produced by the upward transport of momentum in multiple types of atmospheric waves. The discovery of the QBO and its role in the global circulation are discussed. The angular momentum budget of the QBO is analyzed using ERA-Interim isentropic analyses. We explain the benefits of isentropic coordinates and angular momentum as tools for analyzing atmospheric motion. We diagnose vertical motion utilizing continuity, allowing direct computation of the angular momentum fluxes due to vertical motion. The angular momentum fluxes due to unresolved convectively generated gravity waves are computed as a residual. These results are discussed with the goal of improving the representation of sub-grid scale motions in numerical models. We also discuss these results within the context of the reliability of reanalysis datasets and the downsides to treating reanalysis data as observations. We also revisit and discuss the seasonal dependence of the QBO transition.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediummasters theses
dc.identifierHughes_colostate_0053N_18054.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10217/237340
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartof2020-
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.subjectquasi-biennial oscillation
dc.subjectstratosphere
dc.subjectreanalysis
dc.subjectgravity waves
dc.titleDiagnosing the angular momentum fluxes that drive the quasi-biennial oscillation
dc.typeText
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplineAtmospheric Science
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (M.S.)

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