Abstract
In this chapter, thermally and mechanically forced motions of the atmosphere or the ocean are examined. The underlying concepts are propagation of disturbances generated by forcing and their adjustment process. These are discussed using the knowledge of waves described in Chapter 4. We begin with geostrophic adjustment as an initial value problem. Although it is not categorized as a forced motion, it gives a key notion for understanding the relation between the propagation of inertial gravity waves and the adjustment process, through which geostrophic winds are established. We subsequently describe thermal responses on the f- and ß- planes. The response to thermal and mechanical forcing of axisymmetric flows is also described. At the end of this chapter, we consider the effects of frictional forcing on circulation and explain Ekman transport.
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Satoh, M. (2014). Forced motions. In: Atmospheric Circulation Dynamics and General Circulation Models. Springer Praxis Books(). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-13574-3_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-13574-3_6
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