A note on potential energy density in a stratified compressible fluid
- 1 June 1981
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Journal of Fluid Mechanics
- Vol. 107 (-1) , 227-236
- https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022112081001754
Abstract
An exact, local, positive definite expression is obtained for the potential energy density in a wide class of stratified compressible fluids. This expression is an extension of that derived for incompressible stratified fluids in the preceding paper by Holliday & McIntyre (1981), and also represents a finite-amplitude analogue of the disturbance potential energy density that is familiar in small-amplitude theory. Its volume integral reduces to Lorenz’ (1955) available potential energy under suitable choice of a hydrostatic reference state, provided that the fluid is contained within a fixed volume enclosed by rigid impermeable boundaries.Keywords
This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit:
- On potential energy density in an incompressible, stratified fluidJournal of Fluid Mechanics, 1981
- On the concept of available potential energyQuarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 1978
- Available Potential Energy and the Maintenance of the General CirculationTellus A: Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography, 1955