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Next: 2.15.2 Kinetic energy Up: 2.15 Vector invariant momentum Previous: 2.15 Vector invariant momentum   Contents

2.15.1 Relative vorticity

The vertical component of relative vorticity is explicitly calculated and use in the discretization. The particular form is crucial for numerical stability; alternative definitions break the conservation properties of the discrete equations.

Relative vorticity is defined:

$\displaystyle \zeta_3 = \frac{\Gamma}{A_\zeta} = \frac{1}{{\cal A}_\zeta} ( \delta_i \Delta y_c v - \delta_j \Delta x_c u )$ (2.145)

where $ {\cal A}_\zeta$ is the area of the vorticity cell presented in the vertical and $ \Gamma$ is the circulation about that cell.

\fbox{ \begin{minipage}{4.75in} {\em S/R MOM\_VI\_CALC\_RELVORT3} ({\em mom\_vi\... ....F}) \par $\zeta_3$: {\bf vort3} (local to {\em mom\_vecinv.F}) \end{minipage} }


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