Open AccessPotential magnetic field and potential vorticity in magnetohydrodynamics
Author(s) -
Hide Raymond
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
geophysical journal international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.302
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1365-246X
pISSN - 0956-540X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-246x.1996.tb06529.x
Subject(s) - physics , magnetic field , magnetohydrodynamic drive , magnetohydrodynamics , potential vorticity , vorticity , geophysics , planet , classical mechanics , mechanics , astrophysics , vortex , quantum mechanics
SUMMARY New general expressions are given which extend theorems governing the behaviour of the potential vorticity (Ertel) pseudoscalar in continuum mechanics and the potential magnetic jeld (Hide) in electrodynamics. The laws of thermodynamics (involving entropy and potential temperature) are readily incorporated into the expressions, the application of which should facilitate both prognostic and diagnostic studies of basic magnetohydrodynamic processes, including those underlying the magnetic fields of stars and planets and other phenomena encountered in astrophysics and geophysics.