Development and Propagation of Equatorial Waves

Development and propagation of equatorial waves are investigated with the model which includes convection -wave convergence feedback and convection-frictional convergence feedback. Two experiments with an initial Kelvin wave (Exp. K) and with an initial Rossby wave (Exp. R) are carried out. The equatorial waves in Exp. R grow much faster than those in Exp. K. The equatorial waves in both experiments follow zonal (eastward / westward) and meridional (poleward) propagation. The equatorial waves can be partitioned into two meridional modes using Parabolic Cylinder Function. An equa?tor mode denotes a wave component with a positive precipitation center at the equator and an off-equator mode rep?resents a wave component with positive precipitation centers off the equator. The equator mode dominates in Exp. K whereeas the off-equator mode dominates in Exp. R. The rapid wave growth in Exp. R is interpreted by analyzing the eddy available potential energy (EAPE) generation. Stronger off-equator mode in Exp. R obtains more EAPE through convection-frictional convergence feedback which results in more rapid wave growth. The relative vorticity tendency is determined by interactions between Earth’s vorticity and lower-troposphere convergence (divergence effect) and between the meridional gradient and lower-troposphere circulation (beta effect). The eastward and poleward propagation of equatorial waves is a result of the divergence effect, and the westward movement is caused by the beta effect.