The extension of the Miles-Howard theorem to compressible fluids

Abstract

A statically stable, gravitationally stratified compressible fluid containing a parallel shear flow is examined for stability against infinitesimal adiabatic perturbations. It is found that the Miles–Howard theorem of incompressible fluids may be generalized to this system, so that n2 ≥ ¼U′2 throughout the flow is a sufficient condition for stability. Here n2 is the Brunt–Väissälä frequency and U’ is the vertical gradient of the flow speed. Howard's upper bound on the growth rate of an unstable mode also generalizes to this compressible system.