A comparison of six vertical discretization schemes.

Authors
Jordan, Mary S.
Subjects
numerical weather prediction
finite elements
finite differences
baroclinic instability
Advisors
Williams, Roger T.
Date of Issue
1985-09
Date
September 1985
Publisher
Language
en_US
Abstract
Six vertical discretization schemes are compared for a linear, baroclinic, vorticity-divergence equation model. Variables are defined for two staggered and one unstaggered grids. -A finite difference and a Galerkin finite element approximation are formulated for each of the three grids. The models are tested in three experiments. The largest difference between the grids occurs in the mid-atmosphere diabatic heat source experiment and the unstaggered grid provides the best results. For the staggered grids, the results of the finite element models are not more accurate than the corresponding finite difference results. Oscillations occur in the temperature profiles near the surface for both staggered finite element models.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Meteorology
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.