Recovering Quasi-Biennial Oscillations from Chaos

TL;DR

This paper investigates the stability of the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) using a quasilinear model, highlighting how increased vertical wave propagation and wave forcing influence the periodicity of the oscillation.

Contribution

It demonstrates how internal gravity waves and wave attenuation scales contribute to the robustness of QBO periodicity in a comprehensive dynamical model.

Findings

Higher vertical wave propagation favors periodic QBO behavior.

Increasing wave attenuation length scale prevents unstable modes.

Dominant primary waves facilitate greater vertical wave propagation.

Abstract

The Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) is understood to result from wave-mean-flow interactions, but the reasons for its relative stability remain a subject of ongoing debate. In addition, consensus has yet to be reached regarding the respective roles of different equatorial wave types in shaping the QBO's characteristics. Here we employ Holton-Lindzen-Plumb's quasilinear model to shed light on the robustness of periodic behavior in the presence of multiple wave forcings. A comprehensive examination of the various dynamical regimes in this model reveals that increased vertical wave propagation at higher altitudes favors periodicity. In the case of single standing wave forcing, enhanced vertical propagation is controlled by the wave attenuation length scale. The occurrence of non-periodic states at high forcing amplitudes is explained by the excitation of high vertical unstable modes. Increasing the attenuation length scale prevents the emergence of such modes. When multiple wave forcing is considered, the mean flow generated by a dominant primary wave facilitates greater vertical propagation of a perturbation wave. Raising the altitude where most of the wave damping occurs favors periodicity by preventing the development of secondary jets responsible for the aperiodic behavior. This mechanism underscores the potential role of internal gravity waves in supporting the periodicity of a QBO primarily driven by planetary waves.