Oceans and Atmospheres

Abstract

Chapter 3 deals with a selection of phenomena in classical GFD. The first part of the chapter is largely bound up with the derivation of the quasi-geostrophic potential vorticity equation in the troposphere, following Pedlosky’s derivation, but in addition providing a self-consistent recipe for the determination of the stratification parameter. The interesting possibility of atmospheric overturn arises as a consequence. The chapter concludes with discussion of some oceanic topics, in particular western boundary currents and the tides.