Abstract

Using a simple atmospheric model, the difference between the solutions of the primitive and the quasi-hydrostatic equations is demonstrated. The results.show that the quasi-hydrostatic processes are largely determined by the initial field of pressure wherever the meteorological "noise"-phenomena ... Show moreUsing a simple atmospheric model, the difference between the solutions of the primitive and the quasi-hydrostatic equations is demonstrated. The results.show that the quasi-hydrostatic processes are largely determined by the initial field of pressure wherever the meteorological "noise"-phenomena (in the form of short-period oscillations about a trend of the meteorological elements) depend on the initial field of the non-geostrophic wind components. This trend can be computed with sufficient accuracy also by a numerical integration of the primitive equations, which are mathematically simpler to handle than the quasi-hydrostatic equations. In this case the initial wind fields can be computed from the observed pressure field by using the geostrophic approximation. To find the trend the results have to be smoothed. Show less