2002/06/26 by Detlev Mueller, Mueller, Detlev
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Analysis of PDEs (math.AP) #Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics (physics.ao-ph) #Chaotic Dynamics (nlin.CD) #FOS: Mathematics #FOS: Physical sciences #Fluid Dynamics (physics.flu-dyn) #Geophysics and Gravity Measurements #Oceanographic and Atmospheric Processes #Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics #math.AP #nlin.CD #physics.ao-ph #physics.flu-dyn
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.physics/0206085
11 pages, 1 figure
arxiv created 2002/06/26 · openalex publication_date 2002/06/26 · arxiv updated 2009/11/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The baroclinic instability problem is considered in the framework of Laplacian tidal theory. The Hilbert space of the quasigeostrophic vorticity budget is spanned by spheroidal functions. The fluid is linearly stable against quasigeostrophic disturbances. As the essential source of irregular ocean-atmosphere motions, baroclinic instability is ruled out by tidal theory. The midlatitude beta-plane budget of vorticity fluxes is inconsistent with basic laws of motion on the rotating spherical surface. Realistic numerical simulations of global wave dynamics and dynamical circulation instabilities require a covariant account of fluid motion on the spherical planet.