Question

Estimate the TEM residual vertical velocity in the westerly shear zone of the equatorial QBO assuming that radiative cooling can be approximated by Newtonian cooling with a 20-day relaxation time, that the vertical shear is 20 m s-1 per 5 km, and that the meridional half-width is 12° latitude.

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Answer 1

N^2H/R w^bar = J/cp = -alpha (T^bar - T_0) T^bar - T_0 = betaHAL^2/R (5/6) exp (-y^2/L^2) = 5/6 1.73 times 10^6 times 2.29 times 10^-11 times 4 times 10^-3 times 1.33 times 10^6)^2/2 times 10^-4 = 3.9 times 10^-4 m/s w^* = 3.37 m/day