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Contribution to the theory of pressure variations
Author(s) -
Petterssen Sverre
Publication year - 1945
Publication title -
quarterly journal of the royal meteorological society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.744
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1477-870X
pISSN - 0035-9009
DOI - 10.1002/qj.49707130706
Subject(s) - hydrostatic equilibrium , isobaric process , divergence (linguistics) , atmospheric pressure , surface pressure , hydrostatic pressure , geology , anticyclone , mechanics , meteorology , physics , atmospheric sciences , thermodynamics , linguistics , philosophy , quantum mechanics
Two separate equations for the barometric tendency at a fixed point, or the height tendency of a rpessure surface are derived a from the hydrostatic equation, and ( b ) from the equations of motion. The hydrostatic tendency equation, which represents a modification of the Margules—Bjerknes equations, relates the barometric tendency (or the height tendency) to the winds integrated through isobaric layers, and also to the patterns of contours and “thicknesses” of the layers. The separate contributions to the pressure variations rendered by the thermal wind, the cyclostrophic components and the horizontal divergence are identified and discussed. Methods of identifying the layer, or layers, that constitute the site of the processes and of assessing the magnitude of their contributions to the pressure variations are outlined. The reaction of the pressure distribution at sea level to the circulation aloft is discussed in some detail, particularly wit regard to the travel and development of cyclones, anticyclones, etc. The dynamical tendency equation relates the barometric tendency to the accelerations integrate through isobaric layers. A brief discussion of this equation in relation to typical circulations is given.