ESS227
Prof. Jin-Yi Yu
Beta (β)
Effect
•Considering a closed chain of fluid parcels initially
aligned along a circle of
latitude with ζ = 0 at time t0, then the chain displaced δy from the original latitude at time t1.
•Due to the conservation of absolute vorticity, we
know:
•Here, β
≡ df/dy is the planetary
vorticity gradient.
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