Abstract
The bifurcation properties of low order, barotropic models with orographic and a Newtonian type of vorticity forcing are reviewed. The low order model results that multiple equilibria develop as a result of a sufficiently strong wave, orographic forcing and that a suitably positioned wave vorticity forcing can enhance this bifurcation mechanism are verified with a high resolution, spectral model. The high resolution model is integrated in time to find stable steady-states. Bifurcations into multiple equilibria appear as sudden jumps in the amplitudes of the model components, when the forcing is slowly changing in time.
Diagnostic studies of the mountain torque and the eddy activity in the Northern Hemisphere during winter are compared with the occurrence of blocked flows to support the blocking mechanism originally proposed by Charney and DeVore (1979).
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© 1984 Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg
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Källén, E. (1984). Bifurcation Mechanisms and Atmospheric Blocking. In: Burridge, D.M., Källén, E. (eds) Problems and Prospects in Long and Medium Range Weather Forecasting. Topics in Atmospheric and Oceanographic Sciences. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-82132-5_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-82132-5_8
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