A comparative study of observed Northern Hemisphere circulation statistics based on GFDL and NMC analyses. Part II: transient eddy statistics and the energy cycle.

The comparison between two sets of observed circulation statistics undertaken by Lau and Oort (1981) is continued in this study by examining the temporal variance and covariance statistics in these sets. The results from both sets of analyses imply that the transient eddies are very efficient in depleting the available potential energy of the stationary waves through their ability to transport heat down the local temperature gradient. The dissipative time scale associated with this mechanism is several days.-from Authors