Momentum theorems and the structure of atmospheric jets and zonal flows in plasmas

Abstract

The inviscid invariance of potential vorticity is used to derive momentum balance relations for zonal flows in drift wave turbulence. The relations are constructed by exploiting potential enstrophy balance and the Taylor identity, and link flow momentum to turbulence pseudomomentum, along with the driving flux, the dissipation and turbulence spreading. Applications to atmospheric jets and to zonal flows in plasmas are discussed.