Equatorial waves in a stratospheric GCM: effects of vertical resolution

Several Kelvin, mixed Rossby-gravity, and inertio-gravity waves are identified in the simulations. At high vertical resolution, the simulated waves are shown to correspond fairly well to the available observations. The properties of the relatively slow (and vertically short) waves believed to to play a role in the QBO vary significantly with vertical resolution. Vertical grid spacings of about 1km or less appear to be required to represent these waves adequately. The simulated wave amplitudes are at least as large as observed, and the waves are absorbed in the lower stratosphere, as required in order to force the QBO. However, the EP flux divergence associated with the waves is not sufficient to explain the zonal flow accelerations found in the QBO. -from Authors