The columnar structure in stratified geostrophic flows

Abstract

The distribution of scalar property in a steady-state isentropic inviscid fluid is examined. An integral function Γ(p, ø) with isoline slopes independent of p is found to satisfy the f-plane geostrophic equations. Here p is pressure and ø is a baroclinic streamfunction parameter. The ideal solution represents a columnar structure in scalar property distribution and an equivalent-barotropic nature of the baroclinic velocity field. The planetary potential vorticity is constant on isentropic surface. The functional relation, named geostrophic empirical mode, is an extension of the Taylor-Proudman theorem to stratified inhomogeneous fluids.