Potential vorticity in a moist atmosphere
Journal
Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences
Journal Volume
58
Journal Issue
21
Pages
3148-3157
Date Issued
2001
Author(s)
Abstract
The potential vorticity principle for a nonhydrostatic, moist, precipitating atmosphere is derived. An appropriate generalization of the well-known (dry) Ertel potential vorticity is found to be P 1 (2 u) , where is the total density, consisting of the sum of the densities of dry air, airborne moisture (vapor and cloud condensate), and precipitation; u is the velocity of the dry air and airborne moisture; and T is the virtual potential
Type
journal article