potential vorticity


potential vorticity

[pə′ten·chəl vȯr′tis·əd·ē] (fluid mechanics) The product of the absolute vorticity and the static stability, conservative in adiabatic flow, given by the expression (η/θ)(∂θ/∂ p), where η is the absolute vorticity of a fluid parcel, θ the potential temperature, and p the pressure. Also known as absolute potential vorticity.