Summary
One of the important atmospheric levels, the mean energetic level (MEL), which in a sense reflects the energetics of the whole atmosphere, is defined. Its fundamental properties are shown. In order to describe the MEL correctly a new vertical coordinate is introduced and discussed. The new coordinate, ζ, is defined as the ratio of height and temperature. The MEL is shown to be a level with constant value of ζ. Some incorrect conclusions concerning the MEL, derived in the past, have been corrected.
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Abbreviations
- c p :
-
specific heat of air at constant pressure
- c v :
-
specific heat of air at constant volume
- e :
-
base of natural logarithms
- E :
-
total potential energy
- f :
-
Coriolis parameter
- g :
-
acceleration of gravity
- i :
-
specific internal energy
- I :
-
internal energy
- J :
-
enthalpy
- k :
-
unit vector pointing upwards
- p :
-
pressure
- Q :
-
diabatic heating rate
- R :
-
gas constant of the air
- t :
-
time
- T :
-
temperature
- v :
-
horizontal velocity
- v (3) :
-
three-dimensional velocity
- w :
-
vertical velocity in thez-system
- z :
-
height
- γ :
-
temperature growth rate (∂T/∂z)
- ζ:
-
Pechala's vertical coordinate (z/T)
- ζ:
-
generalized vertical velocity in the ζ-system (dζ/dt)
- π:
-
specific potential energy
- Π:
-
potential energy
- ϱ:
-
density of the air
- ψ:
-
Ruppert function
- Ψ:
-
ϱT(1−γζ)−1
- ( )S :
-
quantity at the sea level
- ( )*:
-
quantity at the MEL
References
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Huth, R. The mean energetic level. theory. Stud Geophys Geod 36, 280–292 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01634792
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01634792