Eddy saturation in a reduced two-level model of the atmosphere

TL;DR

This paper introduces a minimal baroclinic model demonstrating eddy saturation, where increased forcing leads to stable eddy activity that maintains heat transport without increasing zonal flow energy.

Contribution

It develops a reduced six-equation model from classical quasi-geostrophic theory that captures the eddy saturation phenomenon in a simplified atmospheric context.

Findings

Eddy saturation occurs after a bifurcation where eddy solutions dominate.

The model shows heat transport becomes independent of forcing after saturation.

Two stable steady states are identified: purely zonal and eddy-active.

Abstract

Eddy saturation describes the nonlinear mechanism in geophysical flows whereby, when average conditions are considered, direct forcing of the zonal flow increases the eddy kinetic energy, while the energy associated with the zonal flow does not increase. Here we present a minimal baroclinic model that exhibits complete eddy saturation. Starting from Phillips' classical quasi-geostrophic two-level model on the beta channel of the mid-latitudes, we derive a reduced order model comprising of six ordinary differential equations including parameterised eddies. This model features two physically realisable steady state solutions, one a purely zonal flow and one where, additionally, finite eddy motions are present. As the baroclinic forcing in the form of diabatic heating is increased, the zonal solution loses stability and the eddy solution becomes attracting. After this bifurcation, the zonal components of the solution are independent of the baroclinic forcing, and the excess of heat in the low latitudes is efficiently transported northwards by finite eddies, in the spirit of baroclinic adjustment.