QG theory part 3 vorticity Flashcards
It can be shown that the rate of change of vorticity is strongly dominated by two processes
(change of vorticity with time)
- Vorticity advection
- Divergence
vorticity advection is resembled by

Divergence is resembled by

Vorticity
Rotation of wind around vertical axis (cyclonic or anticyclonic) vertical or in a slope
storm has …………. vorticity
large
How to get vorticity equation?
- using horizontal component of momentum equation (zonal and meridional)
- take the derivative of y of u component (zonal)
- take the derivative of x of v component (meridional)
- rearange
- subtract (meridional-zonal)
- simplify by scale analysis
vorticity equation:

term A means

local term
term b means

Vorticity advection
term c means

constant (coriolis parameter) & divergence
what does the equation mean?

vorticity is changing due to vorticity advection and divergence
the divergence term describe
the effects of divergence on the change of vorticity within a fluid.
When divergence occurs in a fluid, vorticity becomes more …………………
anticyclonic
When…………………… occurs in a fluid, vorticity becomes more anticyclonic
divergence
When convergence occurs in a fluid, vorticity becomes more ……………..
cyclonic
When ………………………..occurs in a fluid, vorticity becomes more cyclonic
convergence
When divergence occurs in a fluid, vorticity becomes more anticyclonic. Thus, …………………………spins up …………………………..vorticity
convergence, cyclonic
When ………………….occurs in a fluid, vorticity becomes more ……………………. Thus, convergence spins up cyclonic vorticity
divergence, anticyclonic
Surface low-pressure centers are characterized by ………………………….and thus tend to be foci for the production of low-level cyclonic vorticity.
convergence
Surface low-pressure centers are characterized by convergence and thus tend to be ……………………………………………………..
foci for the production of low-level cyclonic vorticity.
upper divergence results in vorticity….
anticyclonic
upper convergence results in……
cyclonic
vorticity cyclonic (+ve or -ve)
+ve vorticity
vorticity anticyclonic (+ve or -ve)
-ve vorticity



