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Cited by 1,227Meteorological Phenomena and SimulationsOceanographic and Atmospheric ProcessesClimate variability and models

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 12 of the 13 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Available potential energy and the maintenance of the general circulation.

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Lorenz, Edward N.·1955·Tellus A Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography
DOI 10.3402/tellusa.v7i2.8796
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Abstract

The available potential energy of the atmosphere may be defined as the difference between the total potential energy and the minimum total potential energy which could result from any adiabatic redistribution of mass. It vanishes if the density stratification is horizontal and statically stable everywhere, and is positive otherwise. It is measured approximately by a weighted vertical average of the horizontal variance of temperature. In magnitude it is generally about ten times the total kinetic energy, but less than one per cent of the total potential energy. Under adiabatic flow the sum of the available potential energy and the kinetic energy is conserved, but large increases in available potential energy are usually accompanied by increases in kinetic energy, and therefore involve nonadiabatic effects. Available potential energy may be partitioned into zonal and eddy energy by an analysis of variance of the temperature field. The zonal form may be converted into the eddy form by an eddy-transport of sensible heat toward colder latitudes, while each form may be converted into the corresponding form of kinetic energy. The general circulation is characterized by a conversion of zonal available potential energy, which is generated by low-latitude heating and high-latitude cooling, to eddy available potential energy, to eddy kinetic energy, to zonal kinetic energy.

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Crossref · 10.3402/tellusa.v7i2.8796

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Citations

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. HAURWITZ, B. 1941: Dynamic Meteorology. New York, McGraw-Hill Book Co. 365 pp.
  2. REYNOLDS O., 1894, (A), 186, 123-164.
  3. ROSSBY C.-G, 1949, J. Meteor, 6, 163
  4. STARR V. P., 1954, Balance require-ments of the general circulation

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Metadata

Authors
Lorenz, E. N.
Affiliations
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
Corresponding author
Lorenz, Edward N.
Venue
Tellus A Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography
Publisher
Stockholm University Press
Published
1955-01-01
Volume
7
Issue
2
Pages
157-167
ISSN
  • 0280-6495 (ISSN-L)
  • 1600-0870
DOI
10.3402/tellusa.v7i2.8796
OpenAlex
W2086044846
Cited by
1,227
References
13
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 48 · 2024: 61 · 2023: 46 · 2022: 47 · 2021: 57 · 2020: 41 · 2019: 51 · 2018: 47 · 2017: 35 · 2016: 42 · 2015: 41 · 2014: 42 · 2013: 47 · 2012: 33
FWCI
2.01
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
Tellus A Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Meteorological Phenomena and Simulations
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Oceanography › Oceanographic and Atmospheric Processes
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Climate variability and models
Keywords
available potential energy, atmospheric general circulation, potential energy, kinetic energy, eddy kinetic energy, eddy heat transport, temperature variance, density stratification, nonadiabatic processes, high-latitude cooling, energy conversion

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