Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics

, Volume 38, Issue 1–2, pp 89–94 | Cite as

Haurwitz solutions of the nonlinear shallow-water equations for small froude number

  • Philip D. Thompson
Article

Summary

In this note we find special solutions of the nonlinear shallow-water equations. From the first integrals of the potential vorticity and energy equations for steady flow we derive a single equation in the streamfunction. In the limiting case of very small Froude number, that equation has no solutions corresponding to gravity waves. Under a nonlinear transformation of dependent variable, it becomes a linear equation whose solutions are related to Haurwitz's solutions for nondivergent barotropic flow in spherical surfaces. The distinguishing feature of these solutions is that the streamlines coincide with contours of the free surface: thus, although the height of the free surface varies, the motions of the fluid are horizontal, and the flow is nondivergent.

The solutions are easily modified to correspond to Rossby waves propagating eastward or westward without change of shape.

Keywords

Climate Change Waste Water Water Management Vorticity Water Pollution 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

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References

  1. Craig, R. A., 1945: A solution of the nonlinear vorticity equation for atmospheric motion.J. Meteor.,2, 173–178.Google Scholar
  2. Haurwitz, B., 1940: The motion of atmospheric disturbances on the spherical earth.J. Marine Res.,3, 254–267.Google Scholar
  3. MacRobert, T. M., 1967:Spherical Harmonics. London: Pergamon Press, 345 pp.Google Scholar
  4. Neamtan, S. M., 1946: The motion of harmonic waves in the atmosphere.J. Meteor.,3, 53–56.Google Scholar
  5. Rossby, C.-G., 1939: Relation between variations in the intensity of the zonal circulation of the atmosphere and the displacements of the semi-permanent centers of action.J. Marine Res.,2, 38–55.Google Scholar
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1988

Authors and Affiliations

  • Philip D. Thompson
    • 1
  1. 1.National Center for Atmospheric ResearchBoulderU.S.A.

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