Semicompressible ocean thermodynamics and Boussinesq energy conservation

Abstract

Equations more accurate than the Boussinesq set that still filter out sound were recently introduced. While these equations were shown to have a consistent potential energy, their thermodynamical behavior and associated implications were not fully analyzed. These shortcomings are remedied in the present note that argues both sets are fully consistent from a thermodynamic perspective. It is further argued that both sets remain computationally competitive with the Boussinesq set.