A note on the β-plane approximation

R. H. J. Grimshaw

doi:10.3402/tellusa.v27i4.9982

A note on the β-plane approximation

Tellus

Volume 27 (1975): Issue 4

By: R. H. J. Grimshaw

Open Access

|Jan 1975

Abstract

A rational approximation procedure is used to derive a β-plane approximation for fluid flow on a rotating earth, and to distinguish it from other related approximations. The β-plane equations obtained here have a constant horizontal component of the Coriolis parameter, while the vertical component varies with latitude. This feature of the equations enables the vorticity and angular momentum principles to hold in their usual form. The importance of the horizontal component of the Coriolis parameter is illustrated for internal gravity waves near a critical level.

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