Ertel potential vorticity and baroclinic instability
Research context
research method · conditional · As of 2026-10-10
Dry atmospheric Ertel potential vorticity combines absolute vorticity and the potential-temperature gradient per unit density.
Key knowledge
Dry atmospheric Ertel potential vorticity combines absolute vorticity and the potential-temperature gradient per unit density. It is materially conserved for inviscid adiabatic motion with conservative forcing; baroclinic shear can exchange available potential and kinetic energy while respecting that conservation.
Values and equations
q = (ω + 2Ω)·grad θ / ρ; Dq/Dt = 0
- q
- Dry Ertel potential vorticity K m^2 kg^-1 s^-1
- ω
- Relative vorticity s^-1
- Ω
- Planetary rotation vector s^-1
- θ
- Potential temperature K
- ρ
- Mass density kg m^-3
Conditions and scope
- Heating, friction and moist composition introduce sources; shallow-water PV is a reduced model.
- Eady and quasi-geostrophic stability results require their own stratification, shear and boundary assumptions.
- Adiabatic inviscid dry-fluid limit; the zero material derivative is conditional.
Sources · 1
References
Sources retain their recorded scope. A source link alone does not establish verification of every statement.
Evidence and review
Advanced Lectures on Dynamical Meteorology: Chapters 6, 8 and 10: baroclinic instability and Ertel potential vorticity (selected source body inspected).
2026-10-10 · Bounded source check of the recorded statement and conditions. This does not certify a unique physical model, reproduce the cited study or replace independent branch review.
Entry details
Permanent link to this entry ↗- Record identity
- research-earth-ertel-baroclinic
- Revision
- research.1
- Structured reference record
- Postgraduate & research reference