Stability of axisymmetric motions in a rotating inviscid atmosphere (Q2265925)

We study the set of ordinary differential equations representing the truncation of the spectral vorticity equation in spherical geometry for two-dimensional, non divergent motions in a homogeneous, inviscid rotating atmosphere. The set of included spectral components represent an arbitrary axisymmetric field of motion (zonal flow) interacting with a couple of non zonal, wave-like perturbations. We analyze the stability of the equilibrium configuration described by purely zonal flow, by an explicit representation of the linear and nonlinear parameters which characterize the unstable oscillations induced by perturbations of the equilibrium.