R. Michael Jones

Bio: R. Michael Jones is an academic researcher from Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences. The author has contributed to research in topics: Gravity wave & Internal wave. The author has an hindex of 8, co-authored 26 publications receiving 268 citations. Previous affiliations of R. Michael Jones include University of Colorado Boulder & National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

A general dispersion relation for internal gravity waves in the atmosphere or ocean, including baroclinicity, vorticity, and rate of strain

Abstract: [1] The dispersion relation for internal gravity waves in the atmosphere or ocean is generalized to include all components of baroclinicity, vorticity, and rate of strain. This generalization is expressed in a coordinate-free formulation suitable to be used as the Hamiltonian in a general ray tracing program. Comparison with other work in special cases is included.

Nonperturbative modal tomography inversion. Part I. Theory

Abstract: The mathematical basis for a method to invert modal ocean acoustic tomography measurements without explicitly assuming an initial sound‐speed profile is described. The method is based on determining the group and phase travel times for each vertical slice through the tomographic region. The group travel times are determined directly as the measurements of modal pulse travel time. The phase travel times are determined by resolving the cycle ambiguities in the phase measurements with constraints connecting the group and phase travel times. Standard tomographic techniques then determine the modal group and phase speeds within the tomographic region, and Abel transforms can be used to determine the symmetric part (the difference between the upper and lower profiles) of the sound channel. As with ray tomography, modal tomographic measurements supply no information about the antisymmetric part of the sound channel (the average of the upper and lower profiles), but determining the lower part of the sound channel...

Infrasonic atmospheric propagation studies using a 3-D ray trace model

Abstract: One component of our efforts to evaluate the capabilities of a demonstration infrasonic network (ISNet) for tornado detection is to understand the impact of complex propagation paths. Although atmospheric attenuation is not significant at infrasonic frequencies (e.g. 10 dB/km compared to 5 dB/km at 2 kHz), atmospheric wind and temperature gradients can have important effects upon detection ability. For example, since the early 1900s, unusual distributions of sound energy around explosions have been documented.

The dispersion relation for internal acoustic-gravity waves in a baroclinic fluid

Abstract: The dispersion relation for internal waves in a fluid is generalized from the barotropic approximation to the baroclinic case to allow for the inclination of surfaces of constant density to surfaces of constant pressure. This generalization allows the barotropic approximation to be tested in a variety of situations. The dispersion relation applies to both acoustic waves and internal gravity waves propagating in either the ocean or the atmosphere. Imaginary terms in the dispersion relation proportional to the baroclinic vector indicate energy exchange between the wave and the mean flow, a result of buoyancy being a nonconservative force in a baroclinic fluid. A buoyancy calculation shows that the baroclinic generalization of the Brunt–Vaisala frequency N is given by N2=∇ρθ⋅∇p/ρ2, where ρ is density, ρθ is potential density, and p is pressure. The baroclinicity in a weather front or cyclonic ring can sometimes have as large an effect as the Earth’s rotation on the propagation of internal gravity waves.

Infrasonic ray tracing applied to small-scale atmospheric structures: thermal plumes and updrafts/downdrafts.

Abstract: A ray-tracing program is used to estimate the refraction of infrasound by the vertical structure of the atmosphere in thermal plumes, showing only weak effects, as well as in updrafts and downdrafts, which can act as vertical wave guides. Thermal plumes are ubiquitous features of the daytime atmospheric boundary layer. The effects of thermal plumes on lower frequency sound propagation are minor with the exception of major events, such as volcanoes, forest fires, or industrial explosions where quite strong temperature gradients are involved. On the other hand, when strong, organized vertical flows occur (e.g., in mature thunderstorms and microbursts), there are significant effects. For example, a downdraft surrounded by an updraft focuses sound as it travels upward, and defocuses sound as it travels downward. Such propagation asymmetry may help explain observations that balloonists can hear people on the ground; but conversely, people on the ground cannot hear balloonists aloft. These results are pertinent for those making surface measurements from acoustic sources aloft, as well as for measurements of surface sound sources using elevated receivers.

Roll vortices in the planetary boundary layer: A review

Abstract: Roll vortices may be loosely defined as quasi two-dimensional organized large eddies with their horizontal axis extending through the whole planetary boundary layer (PBL). Their indirect manifestation is most obvious in so-called cloud streets as can be seen in numerous satellite pictures. Although this phenomenon has been known for more than twenty years and has been treated in a review by one of us (R.A.Brown) in 1980, there has been a recent resurgence in interest and information. The interest in ocena/land-atmosphere interactions in the context of climate modeling has led to detailed observational and modeling efforts on this problem. The presence of rolls can have a large impact on flux modelling in the PBL. Hence, we shall review recent advances in our understanding of organized large eddies in the PBL and on their role in vertical transport of momentum, heat, moisture and chemical trace substances within the lowest part of the atmosphere.

Stably Stratified Atmospheric Boundary Layers

Abstract: Atmospheric boundary layers with weak stratification are relatively well described by similarity theory and numerical models for stationary horizontally homogeneous conditions. With common strong stratification, similarity theory becomes unreliable. The turbulence structure and interactions with the mean flow and small-scale nonturbulent motions assume a variety of scenarios. The turbulence is intermittent and may no longer fully satisfy the usual conditions for the definition of turbulence. Nonturbulent motions include wave-like motions and solitary modes, two-dimensional vortical modes, microfronts, intermittent drainage flows, and a host of more complex structures. The main source of turbulence may not be at the surface, but rather may result from shear above the surface inversion. The turbulence is typically not in equilibrium with the nonturbulent motions, sometimes preventing the formation of an inertial subrange. New observational and analysis techniques are expected to advance our understanding of...

Acoustic‐gravity waves in the upper atmosphere

Abstract: In this paper we review the theory of acoustic-gravity waves, the interaction of such waves with the ionosphere, the experimental support for the existence of such waves in the upper atmosphere, and the role played by acoustic-gravity waves in thermospheric dynamics. After a thorough discussion on the properties of acoustic-gravity waves in an ideal isothermal atmosphere, the effects produced by horizontal winds, sharp boundary discontinuities, and dissipative processes are discussed. The generation of these waves by stationary or moving sources is then treated. It is shown that the atmospheric response to a stationary impulse source can be described by the emission of three waves: acoustic, buoyancy, and gravity. These discussions are then followed by reviewing propagation effects in a realistic atmosphere for both free waves and guided waves. Recent numerical results are given. When acoustic-gravity waves propagate through the ionosphere, interaction between the wave and the ionosphere will take place. The physical processes involved in such an interaction are examined.

The theoretical relationship between foliage temperature and canopy resistance in sparse crops

Abstract: One-dimensional, sparse-crop interaction theory is reformulated to allow calculation of the canopy resistance from measurements of foliage temperature. A submodel is introduced to describe eddy diffusion within the canopy which provides a simple, empirical simulation of the reported behavior obtained from a second-order closure model. The sensitivity of the calculated canopy resistance to the parameters and formulas assumed in the model is investigated. The calculation is shown to exhibit a significant but acceptable sensitivity to extreme changes in canopy aerodynamics, and to changes in the surface resistance of the substrate beneath the canopy at high and intermediate values of leaf area index. In very sparse crops changes in the surface resistance of the substrate are shown to contaminate the calculated canopy resistance, tending to amplify the apparent response to changes in water availability. The theory is developed to allow the use of a measurement of substrate temperature as an option to mitigate this contamination.

Decreases in Stomatal Conductance of Soybean under Open-Air Elevation of [CO2] Are Closely Coupled with Decreases in Ecosystem Evapotranspiration

Abstract: Stomatal responses to atmospheric change have been well documented through a range of laboratory- and field-based experiments. Increases in atmospheric concentration of CO2 ([CO2]) have been shown to decrease stomatal conductance (gs) for a wide range of species under numerous conditions. Less well understood, however, is the extent to which leaf-level responses translate to changes in ecosystem evapotranspiration (ET). Since many changes at the soil, plant, and canopy microclimate levels may feed back on ET, it is not certain that a decrease in gs will decrease ET in rain-fed crops. To examine the scaling of the effect of elevated [CO2] on gs at the leaf to ecosystem ET, soybean (Glycine max) was grown in field conditions under control (approximately 375 μmol CO2 mol−1 air) and elevated [CO2] (approximately 550 μmol mol−1) using free air CO2 enrichment. ET was determined from the time of canopy closure to crop senescence using a residual energy balance approach over four growing seasons. Elevated [CO2] caused ET to decrease between 9% and 16% depending on year and despite large increases in photosynthesis and seed yield. Ecosystem ET was linked with gs of the upper canopy leaves when averaged across the growing seasons, such that a 10% decrease in gs results in a 8.6% decrease in ET; this relationship was not altered by growth at elevated [CO2]. The findings are consistent with model and historical analyses that suggest that, despite system feedbacks, decreased gs of upper canopy leaves at elevated [CO2] results in decreased transfer of water vapor to the atmosphere.