Calculating Potential Vorticity of a Parcel of Air

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on calculating potential vorticity (PV) for various air parcels using specific meteorological parameters. Key variables include date, time, latitude, longitude, barometric altitude, pressure, and various mixing ratios. The formula for PV is defined as PV = g(-∂θ/∂p)ζaθ, where g represents gravity, ζaθ is the absolute vorticity component, and -∂θ/∂p indicates static stability. The conversation highlights the importance of PV in distinguishing tropospheric air masses from stratospheric ones, as discussed in McIntyre (2012).

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of meteorological parameters such as pressure, temperature, and humidity.
  • Familiarity with the concept of potential vorticity in fluid dynamics.
  • Knowledge of isentropic processes and their role in atmospheric science.
  • Basic grasp of calculus, particularly partial derivatives.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the application of potential vorticity in meteorological models.
  • Research the role of isentropic surfaces in atmospheric dynamics.
  • Explore the implications of static stability on weather patterns.
  • Learn about advanced atmospheric data analysis tools for calculating PV.
USEFUL FOR

Meteorologists, atmospheric scientists, and researchers interested in fluid dynamics and weather pattern analysis will benefit from this discussion.

Johnball96
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Hello,

I am trying to calculate the potential vorticity (PV) in units (PVU) of thousands of different parcels of air on varying spatial and temporal scales. Variables available are as follows;

parameter Unit Format Precision Default value :

1 date yyyymmdd I8.8 0 99999999
2 time hhmmss I6.6 0 999999
3 latitude deg F6.2 0.01 -99.99
4 longitude deg F7.2 0.01 -999.99
5 baro altitude m F8.1 0.3 -99999.9
6 radio altitude m F7.1 0.1 -9999.9
7 pressure Pa I7 10 -999999
8 A340. stat. temp. deg C F6.2 0.25 -99.99
9 A340.air.speed m/s F7.2 0.01 -999.99
10 A340.ground.speed m/s F7.2 0.01 -999.99
11 wind direction deg F7.2 0.01 -999.99
12 wind speed m/s F7.2 0.01 -999.99
13 ozone mixing ratio ppbv I5 1 -9999
14 static temp. deg C F5.1 0.1 -99.9
15 Relative humidity % F6.1 0.1 -999.9
16 RH validity 0,1,2,3 I2 0 9
17 RH uncertainty % I3 1 -99
18 H2O mixing ratio g/kg F7.3 0.01 -99.999
19 CO mixing ratio ppbv F6.0 1 -9999.
20 NOy mixing ratio ppbv F6.2 0.01 -99.99
21 NO mixing ratio ppbv F6.2 0.01 -99.99
22 NOx mixing ratio ppbv F6.2 0.01 -99.99
23 NOy uncertainty ppbv F6.2 0.01 -99.99
24 NOy validity 0-63 I2 0 -9

Is it possible to calculate the potential vorticity of an individual air particle?

Thank you in advance

John
 
Physics news on Phys.org
What, please, is a potential vorticity?

The two terms are used specifically in mutually exclusive circumstances.
 
I am trying to uses potential vorticity (PV) as a meteorological tool to isolate Tropospheric airmass from those of stratospheric origin. Many papers discuss calculation of PV as a good technique for this.

McIntyre (2012) describe PV as "the constancy on a fluid particle... central to stratified, rotating fluid dynamics". I think the idea is that there is the potential for creating vorticity at different latitudes where adiabatic variance in isentropically frictionless separated layers

there is a potential for creating vorticity by changing latitude and by adiabatically
changing the separation of isentropic layers.

PV = g(-∂θ/∂p)ζaθ

where g is gravity, ζaθ is the component of absolute vorticity normal to an isentropic surface, and -∂θ/∂p is the static stability.

Does this answer your question?