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Momentum flux budget

As has been shown in the boundary-layer meteorology literature (e.g., Stull, 1988), budget equations can be constructed for covariance quantities such as the momentum flux. Although these equations have most often been used by boundary-layer meteorologists, the same equations can be used for wave, convective or turbulent motions. Since we are interested in waves generated by convection, the equations provide a unified framework in which to study the sources and sinks of momentum flux. The budget equation for momentum flux is given by,

The physical processes that are important within the above momentum flux budget equation are shown in the graphs below, with numbers to indicate which term each line represents. These means were taken using the model output perturbation fields. The pressure correlation (5), Rotta (6), transport (3) and buoyancy production (8) terms are all important in the troposphere, while transport takes on less importance in the stratosphere.The pressure correlation and Rotta terms seem to almost completely balance one another out, indicating that it may be best to combine these terms.