The Angular Momentum Budget of the Transformed Eulerian Mean Equations

Abstract

The axial angular momentum (AAM) budget of zonal atmospheric annuli extending from the surface to a given height and over meridional belts is discussed within the framework of conventional and transformed Eulerian mean (TEM) theory. Conventionally, it is only fluxes of AAM through the boundaries and/or torques at the surface that are able to change the AAM of an annulus. TEM theory introduces new torques in the budget related to the vertically integrated Eliassen–Palm flux divergence and also new AAM fluxes of the residual difference circulation. Some of these torques are displayed for various annuli. In particular, the application of TEM theory generates a large positive torque at tropospheric upper boundaries in the global case. This torque is much larger than the global mountain and friction torques but is cancelled exactly by the new vertical AAM fluxes through the upper boundary. It is concluded that the TEM approach complicates the analysis of AAM budgets but does not provide additional insight. Isentropic pressure torques are believed to be similar to the TEM torques at the upper boundary of an annulus. The isentropic pressure torques are evaluated from data and found to differ in several respects from the TEM torques.