Modeling of the effect of surface topography on the dynamics of thermal Rossby waves
Abstract
In current belief, the angular momentum and internal heat in the liquid outer core of Earth are transported via the thermal Rossby waves. We suggest a model to study the effect of surface topography on the nonlinear dynamics of the Rossby waves. Analytical solutions for complex Ginzburg-Landau equation with spatially modulated forcing are found. In linear approximation in the forcing amplitude, stability of the pure and modulated state is determined by the ratio between the spatial period of the forcing and the length scale of the phase change. Nonlinear dynamics depends on the forcing amplitude. If it is small, the nonlinear time-dependent solutions may occur; a finite-amplitude forcing results in nonlinear steady solutions. Our results are in an agreement with previous weakly nonlinear theories and numerical studies.
- Publication:
-
APS Division of Fluid Dynamics Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- November 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003APS..DFD.DN009A