The Matsuno-Gill model and equatorial superrotation

Adam P. Showman, Lorenzo M. Polvani

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

72 Scopus citations

Abstract

Equatorial superrotation can be generated in global general circulation models (GCMs) when forced with longitudinally varying heating, similar to that postulated in the Matsuno-Gill model. However, the implications of the classical Matsuno-Gill theory for equatorial superrotation have not, to date, been addressed. Here, we show that the classic, shallow-water Matsuno-Gill solutions do not exhibit equatorial superrotation: although the flow converges westerly momentum from high latitudes to the equatorpromoting superrotationthey also contain an artificial source of easterly momentum at the equator that cancels the latitudinal momentum convergence and prevents superrotation from emerging. This artificial momentum source results from a physically inconsistent representation of vertical momentum transport in the model. We show that if the Matsuno-Gill model is modified to properly account for momentum exchange with an underlying quiescent layer, the solutions naturally exhibit equatorial superrotation, at any forcing amplitude.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberL18811
JournalGeophysical Research Letters
Volume37
Issue number18
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2010
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geophysics
  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The Matsuno-Gill model and equatorial superrotation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this