Conservation in Dynamical Cores: What, How and Why?

Abstract

The conservation properties of the continuous, adiabatic and frictionless equations governing atmospheric flow are summarized. It is often considered desirable for atmospheric models to possess analogues of these conservation properties; some of the techniques for obtaining such analogues are noted. However, there is no widespread agreement in the literature on which conservation properties are most important and why. Here we suggest some ways of thinking about these questions, taking into account the atmospheric flow regimes that global numerical models are intended to represent.