Generalized energetics for inertially stable parallel shear flows

Abstract

For simple parallel shear flows on the f-plane and the equatorial β-plane we derive an energy norm for zonally invariant perturbations. It is used to derive the linear stability boundary for when these flows are inertially stable in the classical sense but may be destabilized due to unequal rates of diffusion of momentum and heat. The analysis is valid when there are arbitrary, zonally invariant, no-slip boundaries which are perfect thermal conductors.