BAROCLINIC WAVES IN A SHALLOW SATURATED LAYER

Humidity stratification may affect baroclinic wave growth by inducing vertical confinement in the layer where small amplitude updrafts are s aturated. By means of a two-dimensional numerical model the authors sh ow that small amplitude modes are trapped in saturated regions, exhibi ting horizontal and vertical scales that are smaller and growth rates that are larger than those of Eady waves in a dry atmosphere. Then the small amplitude is contrasted with the finite amplitude growth: where as in the former a clear-cut modal structure is attained, in the latte r the eventual mixing of moisture alters the initial environment to th e point that shallow waves are no longer supported. When the alteratio n of the basic state takes place the amplitude of the shallow wave, al though finite, is small enough that the approximations adopted to repr esent meridional advection of moisture in this tu two-dimensional mode l are still valid. The effect of surface drag is also discussed and it is shown that it does not prevent modal and finite amplitude growth i n the moist atmosphere.