The spatial and temporal evolution of localized unstable baroclinic disturbances

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Abstract
The temporal and spatial evolution of unstable pulse disturbances in a two layer model is investigated. The solution is represented by an integral whose behavior for long times is asymptotically estimated. The effects of vertical shear, beta and friction on the spread of the disturbance are determined. Some of the conclusions are (i) that the meridional extent of the disturbance is less than its zonal extent with the radius of deformation being the relevant length scale in both directions (ii) that nonlinear erects are likely to become important while the disturbance is still spread over a few radii of deformation and (iii) that absolute instability exists for a wide range of the physical parameters of the problem.

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