Abstract
IN regions of surface easterly winds (where the surface is moving in space faster than the air) a transfer of westerly relative angular momentum takes place from the Earth's surface to the atmosphere, while in regions of surface westerlies the transfer is from the atmosphere to Earth. These transfers are necessarily accompanied by transports of angular momentum within the atmosphere from low latitudes, where easterly winds prevail, to middle latitudes where westerly winds prevail. Such transports are accomplished chiefly by large-scale quasi-horizontal eddy processes as first suggested by Jeffreys1. Lorenz2 and Starr3 have recently summarized the observational evidence which bears out Jeffreys's suggestion and have shown how the angular momentum transports act to maintain the angular momentum of the Earth's atmosphere. Concomitantly with the transfer of angular momentum between low and middle latitudes we have recently found evidence of a transfer of momentum between the hemispheres4. In the winter hemisphere the low latitude surface easterlies are strong and more angular momentum is communicated to the atmosphere than is transported polewards. The excess is transferred across the equator into the summer hemisphere. The purpose of this letter is to communicate our recent numerical estimates of the interhemispheric transfer and to compare them with the hemispheric contents of angular momentum.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Jeffreys, H., Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 52, 85 (1926).
Lorenz, E. N., The Nature and Theory of the General Circulation of the Atmosphere, 161 (World Meteorological Organization, 1967).
Starr, V. P., Physics of Negative Viscosity Phenomena, 256 (McGraw-Hill, 1968).
Kidson, J. W., Vincent, D. G., and Newell, R. E., Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc. (in the press).
Heastie, H., and Stephenson, P. M., Geophys. Mem., No. 103, 217 (HMSO, London, 1960).
Lamb, H. H., Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 85, 1 (1959).
Crutcher, H. L., US Weather Bureau, Washington DC, Tech. Paper, No. 41, 307 (1961).
Gray, W. S., Monthly Weather Review, 96, 669 (1968).
Newell, R. E., Vincent, D. G., and Kidson, J. W., Tellus (in the press).
Newell, R. E., Kidson, J. W., and Vincent, D. G., Nature (in the press).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
KIDSON, J., NEWELL, R. Exchange of Atmospheric Angular Momentum between the Hemispheres. Nature 221, 352–353 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1038/221352b0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/221352b0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.