Numerical study of structural changes in the laboratory model of the atmospheric general circulation under variation of the rotation rate

The results of numerical modelling of the large-scale atmospheric circulation are presented. The main objective of this study is to describe the adaptation of the Earth-like atmospheric system to the variation of the rotation rate at fixed heating and cooling power. The increase in the rotation rate destabilize axisymmetric Hadley regime, squeezes the Hadley cell analog towards the periphery, leads to the formation of another two relatively weak meridional cells (analogs of the polar and Ferrel cells) and weakens the intensity of the meridional circulation. The changes in the mean flow structure are accompanied by noticeable variation of the mean temperature distribution. Adaptation of the system to new conditions led to the development of wave motions and compensation of the loss in mean part of the total heat flux by its pulsating part. The regular baroclinic waves begin to play a key role in the transport of heat. The further increase of the rotation rate leads to the irregular wave baroclinic regime (atmospheric regime), which is characterized by increasing energy of smaller scale waves. The total kinetic energy of the relative flow motion decreases with increasing rotation rate, but the energy of the radial flow, which provides most of the heat transfer, increases due to the pulsation part.