SOME ASPECTS OF A CYCLE OF AVAILABLE POTENTIAL ENERGY¹

Abstract

Abstract A large-scale cycle of available potential energy in the Northern Hemisphere over a period of about two weeks during late December 1958 and early January 1950 has been investigated in some detail. During this cycle the zonal available potential energy first built up strongly to a maximum, and then when it began to decline, increases in eddy available and eddy kinetic energy took place. These changes in the energy parameters were well related to variations in the poleward heat transport, large values of which signify substantial conversions from zonal to eddy available potential energy, and to variations in the conversion between potential and kinetic energy. Furthermore some estimates of the generation of available potential energy show good consistency with the available potential energy variations. Examination of this cycle of available potential energy on a regional basis indicates that it was almost completely dominated by developments over North America and vicinity. The synoptic events asso...