Abstract.
Quasi-geostrophic potential-vorticity equations in the inertial regime are obtained by eliminating the ageostrophic vertical velocity from two coupled equations: a vorticity equation and a local conservation equation which depends on special properties of the fluid considered each time. In this paper, a unified equation governing the nondimensional ageostrophic vertical velocity for barotropic and baroclinic flows, in both the oceanic and atmospheric context is presented. Then, the results are applied to determine a wide variety of quasi-geostrophic potential-vorticity equations. Moreover, the estimate of the related dimensional vertical velocity is carried out on general grounds.
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References
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F. Crisciani, R. Purini, Eur. Phys. J. Plus 127, 6 (2012)
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Crisciani, F., Purini, R. A unified equation for the vertical velocity of fluid parcels in the context of quasi-geostrophic potential-vorticity equations. Eur. Phys. J. Plus 128, 36 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/i2013-13036-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/i2013-13036-x