Discussion on the Complete-Form Vorticity Equation and Slantwise Vorticity Development
The complete form of the vertical vorticity tendency equation （the complete-form vorticity equation） is derived from the Ertel potential vorticity equation to contain thermodynamic factors. In this study, a new complete-form vorticity equation, which has the same form as the original complete-form v...
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| Published in: | Journal of Meteorological Research Vol. 30; no. 1; pp. 67 - 75 |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Beijing
The Chinese Meteorological Society
01-02-2016
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | The complete form of the vertical vorticity tendency equation （the complete-form vorticity equation） is derived from the Ertel potential vorticity equation to contain thermodynamic factors. In this study, a new complete-form vorticity equation, which has the same form as the original complete-form vorticity equation, is deduced from the absolute vorticity vector equation combined with the continuity equation and the expression of three-dimensional （3D） entropy gradient. By comparing the complete-form vorticity equation with the classical vertical vorticity equation, it is found that regardless of whether or not the isentropic surface is tilting, the two vorticity equations are in essence the same. The ＂baroclinic term＂ of the complete-form vorticity equation is exactly equal to the solenoidal term of the classical one, and there is a significant amount of cancellation between the two baroclinic items （the ＂slantwise term＂ and the horizontal vorticity change term） in the complete-form vorticity equation. In operational weather analysis, the tilt of the isentropic surface can be diagnosed according to the density of the isotherm on the upper-level isobaric map. For synoptic-scale motion, the vertical vorticity produced by the tilt of the isentropic surface is due to the contribution of atmospheric baroclinicity, which is measured by the solenoid. The 3D solenoid is parallel to the isentropic surface, so the more tilted the isentropic surface, the bigger the projection of the 3D solenoid in the vertical direction. The baroclinic contribution can be interpreted based on the PV thinking theory, but the relationship between the vorticity field and the potential vorticity field is not immediate. |
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| Bibliography: | complete-form vorticity equation, isentropic surface tilt, slantwise vorticity development, potential vorticity, solenoidal term 11-2277/P WANG Xiuming, ZHOU Xiaogang, TAO Zuyu, LIU HuaI （ 1 China Meteorological Administration Training Center, Beijing 100081 ; 2 Physical School of Peking University, Beijing 100871） The complete form of the vertical vorticity tendency equation （the complete-form vorticity equation） is derived from the Ertel potential vorticity equation to contain thermodynamic factors. In this study, a new complete-form vorticity equation, which has the same form as the original complete-form vorticity equation, is deduced from the absolute vorticity vector equation combined with the continuity equation and the expression of three-dimensional （3D） entropy gradient. By comparing the complete-form vorticity equation with the classical vertical vorticity equation, it is found that regardless of whether or not the isentropic surface is tilting, the two vorticity equations are in essence the same. The ＂baroclinic term＂ of the complete-form vorticity equation is exactly equal to the solenoidal term of the classical one, and there is a significant amount of cancellation between the two baroclinic items （the ＂slantwise term＂ and the horizontal vorticity change term） in the complete-form vorticity equation. In operational weather analysis, the tilt of the isentropic surface can be diagnosed according to the density of the isotherm on the upper-level isobaric map. For synoptic-scale motion, the vertical vorticity produced by the tilt of the isentropic surface is due to the contribution of atmospheric baroclinicity, which is measured by the solenoid. The 3D solenoid is parallel to the isentropic surface, so the more tilted the isentropic surface, the bigger the projection of the 3D solenoid in the vertical direction. The baroclinic contribution can be interpreted based on the PV thinking theory, but the relationship between the vorticity field and the potential vorticity field is not immediate. |
| ISSN: | 2095-6037 2198-0934 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s13351-016-5040-3 |