ON THE DYNAMICS OF CONVECTION WAVES

The linearized system of atmospheric equations is solved analytically for a two-layer model to study the characteristics of convection waves. The solutions show that convection waves induced by a disturbance are composed of trapped waves with selected wave numbers that are determined by the interaction between the convective boundary layer and the overlying stable layer. The explicit relation of wave-number selection defines the pattern of the vortices in the convection waves, which may appear as cloud streets, cellular convections or convective thermals. The wave-number selection explains the formation of longitudinal and cellular convections and the transition between them. The analytical solutions of the convection waves reveal, theoretically, the structure of the large vortices in the convective boundary layer, and bring to light the effects of the upper stable layer on these vortices.Meteorology & Atmospheric SciencesSCI(E)SSCI11ARTICLE512715-73211