ULF wave transmission across collisionless shocks: 2.5D local hybrid simulations

<p>We study the interaction of upstream ultra-low frequency (ULF) waves with collisionless shocks by analyzing the outputs of eleven 2.5D local hybrid simulation models. Our simulated shocks have Alfvénic Mach numbers between 4.29-7.42 and their θ<sub>BN</sub> angles are 15º, 30º, 45º and 50º. Thus all are quasi-parallel or marginally quasi-perpendicular shocks. Upstream of all of the shocks the ULF wave foreshock develops. It is populated by transverse and compressive ULF magnetic field fluctuations that propagate upstream in the rest frame of upstream plasma. We show that the properties of the upstream waves reflect on the properties of the shock ripples. We also show that due to these ripples, as different portions of upstream waves reach the shocks, they encounter shock sections with different properties, such as the downstream magnetic field and the orientation of the local shock normals. This means that the waves are not simply transmitted into the downstream region but are heavily processed by the shocks. The identity of upstream fluctuations is largely lost, since the downstream fluctuations do not resemble the upstream waves in their shape, waveform extension, orientation nor in their wavelength. However some features are conserved. For example, the Fourier spectra of upstream waves present a bump or flattening at wavelengths corresponding to those of the upstream ULF waves. Most of the corresponding compressive downstream spectra also exhibit these features, while transverse downstream spectra are largely featureless.</p>

Mesoscale Gravity Waves in the Mei-Yu Front System

High-resolution cloud-permitting simulations with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model are performed to study the generation, structure, and characteristics of mesoscale gravity waves in an idealized mei-yu front system. Two classes of waves are generated successively during the control simulation. The first class of waves, which is typical of vertically propagating waves excited by the front itself, appears as the front develops before the generation of the prefrontal moist convection and has a coherent fanlike pattern from the troposphere to the lower stratosphere. The second class of waves, which is much stronger than the fanlike waves, appears accompanied by the generation of the moist convection. It is nearly vertically trapped in the troposphere, while it propagates vertically upstream and downstream in the lower stratosphere. The source function analysis is introduced to demonstrate that the mechanical oscillator mechanism plays a dominant role in the generation of convective gravity waves in the lower stratosphere. The vertical motion induced by the deep convection develops upward in the troposphere, overshoots the level of neutral buoyancy (LNB), and impinges on the tropopause. The net buoyancy forces the air parcels to oscillate about the LNB, thus initiating gravity waves in the lower stratosphere. Further spectral analysis shows that the upstream waves have more abundant wavenumber–frequency and phase speed space distributions than the downstream waves. And the former amplify with height while the latter weaken in general under the effect of background northerly wind. The power spectral densities of downstream waves concentrate on faster phase speed than those of upstream waves.

Comments on “The Interaction of an Eastward-Flowing Current and an Island: Sub- and Supercritical Flow”

In regards to the recent paper by Pedlosky and Spall (Journal of Physical Oceanography, November 2015), this comment maintains that the steady-state solutions of Rossby waves in a uniform eastward current past an island have waves on the upstream side that are not caused by the island because of inappropriate boundary conditions and the assumed form of the solution. The solutions are interesting but are not the solutions to the problem as posed in their paper. Similar upstream waves in a time-dependent numerical model are also inconsistent with linear Rossby wave theory, though the reasons for their presence are uncertain.