Gravity wave breaking in Jovian atmospheres

The atmospheres of Jovian planets are composed of a lower convective region with an overlying radiative region, where waves are driven due to the convective motion at the boundary. The release of energy and mixing due to the breaking of these gravity waves in planetary atmospheres may make significant contributions to the atmospheric dynamics and chemistry of Jovian atmospheres. We perform a study of the effects of radiative, viscous, and dissipative damping upon these waves, and find wave breaking heights using steepening and static stability criteria for the three main classes of Jovian planets. Using linear stability and weakly nonlinear analysis, we solve for the amplitudes of the fastest growing unstable modes, and explore their effects upon the energetics and mixing properties of the atmosphere.