Oort, A. H., and J. P. Peixoto, 1974: The annual cycle of the energetics of the atmosphere on a planetary scale. Journal of Geophysical Research, 79 (18), 2705-2719.

Abstract: A fairly complete description of the annual cycle of the energetics of the atmosphere is given for the entire northern hemisphere. The basis for the present study is the collection of 5 years of daily upper air data from more than 600 radiosonde stations contained in the so-called MIT general circulation library. The mathematical expressions are formulated in the mixed space-time domain using Lorenz's approximate expression for available potential energy. However, for comparison, some terms have been computed in the time domain. Aside from the usual generation, conversion, and dissipation integrals the contribution by boundary terms at the equator must be included in the monthly budgets. Some of the main results are as follows. (1) Tentative box diagrams are given for the complete energy cycle for the 60-month, January, and July samples. (2) The exchange of mean available potential energy at the equatorial boundary plays an important role in the hemispheric energetics, especially in winter. (3) A maximum in generation of mean available potential energy (nearly 3 W m^-3) takes place in the fall. Earlier investigators have found a maximum in midwinter; the discrepancy is explained. (4) It appears that the generation of eddy available potential energy constitutes the main driving force of the summer circulation. This generation is probably largely due to the release of latent heat in the intertropical regions. (5) Rather reliable estimates of the hemispheric dissipation rate of kinetic energy are made of about 2 W m^-2 in the long-term mean, 3.5 W m^-2 in winter, and about 1 W m^-2 in summer. (6) The energy amounts and conversion terms appear to have about the same numerical value in the time domain, in the mixed space-time domain, and most likely also in the space domain.