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A Spatial Model for Soil––Atmosphere Interaction: Model Construction and Linear Stability Analysis

A Spatial Model for Soil––Atmosphere Interaction: Model Construction and Linear Stability Analysis A simple model is developed to investigate the role of spatial dynamics in the soil––atmosphere system. The model is constructed by considering the mass and energy balance equations for soil and atmosphere, closed with a two-dimensional, corrected quasigeostrophic approximation for large-scale atmospheric motions, and a suitable model for rainfall occurrence. The main result presented concerns the linear stability analyses of the homogenous equilibrium solutions for dry and wet climates. In the first case (desert) the system is stable and no spatial perturbation internal to the system can produce spatial heterogeneities. In the second case (wet climate) the dynamics can produce spatial instabilities of several scales, resulting in likely patterns of wet and dry zones. A key role in triggering this instability is played by the sensible heat flux to the atmosphere, which in turn is linked to soil moisture. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Hydrometeorology American Meteorological Society

A Spatial Model for Soil––Atmosphere Interaction: Model Construction and Linear Stability Analysis

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References (13)

Publisher
American Meteorological Society
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 American Meteorological Society
ISSN
1525-7541
DOI
10.1175/1525-7541(2000)001<0061:ASMFSA>2.0.CO;2
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

A simple model is developed to investigate the role of spatial dynamics in the soil––atmosphere system. The model is constructed by considering the mass and energy balance equations for soil and atmosphere, closed with a two-dimensional, corrected quasigeostrophic approximation for large-scale atmospheric motions, and a suitable model for rainfall occurrence. The main result presented concerns the linear stability analyses of the homogenous equilibrium solutions for dry and wet climates. In the first case (desert) the system is stable and no spatial perturbation internal to the system can produce spatial heterogeneities. In the second case (wet climate) the dynamics can produce spatial instabilities of several scales, resulting in likely patterns of wet and dry zones. A key role in triggering this instability is played by the sensible heat flux to the atmosphere, which in turn is linked to soil moisture.

Journal

Journal of Hydrometeorology – American Meteorological Society

Published: Feb 19, 1999

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