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Which process removes an initial imbalance from the flow?

  • A.Frictional damping, which removes the excess kinetic energy of the imbalance over a period of days
  • B.Baroclinic instability
  • C.Diabatic heating, which alters the mass field until it becomes consistent with the existing wind field
  • D.Geostrophic adjustment by radiation of gravity waves

Answer: D

An unbalanced state radiates inertia-gravity waves that carry away the imbalance within a few hours, leaving a balanced residual whose scale is set by the Rossby radius of deformation. This is why the atmosphere is observed to be close to balance almost everywhere despite continual forcing. Friction and diabatic heating act far more slowly and instability generates rather than removes departures from the mean state. Reading the definition literally, rather than recalling a formula, is the reliable route through questions of this shape.

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