Editorial "Topics in modern geophysical fluid dynamics"

Adv. Geosci., 15, 1, 2008 www.adv-geosci.net/15/1/2008/ © Author(s) 2008. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Advances in Geosciences Manuscript prepared for ADGEO with version 1.3 of the LATEX class copernicus.cls. Date: 6 March 2008 Editorial Topics in modern geophysical fluid dynamics 5 U. Harlander1 , A. Will2 , M. V. Kurgansky3,4 , and M. EhrendorferEditorial: Topics in modern geophysical fluid d 1 Department of Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics, Brandenburg University of Technology (BTU) Cottbus, Uwe Harlander1 , Andreas Will2 , Michael V. Kurgansky3,4 , and Martin Ehrendo Siemens-Halske-Ring 14, 03046 Cottbus, Germany 1 of Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics, Brandenburg University of Tec 2 Department of Environmental Meteorology, Brandenburg University Department of Technology (BTU) Cottbus, Burger Chaussee 2, Siemens-Halske-Ring 14, D-03046 Cottbus, Germany 2 Campus Nord, 03044 Cottbus, Germany Department of Environmental Meteorology, Brandenburg University of Technology 3 Department of Geophysics, University of Concepción, Concepción, Campus Chile Nord, D-03044 Cottbus, Germany 4 A. M. Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Moscow, Russia 3 Department of Geophysics, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile 4 A.M. Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Moscow, Russia 5 Department of Meteorology, The University of Reading, PO Box 243, 5 Earley Gate, Building 58, Reading, RG6 6BB, UK Department of Meteorology, The University of Reading, PO Box 243, Earley Gate, Vienna is a fascinating modern city with rich and glorious history and best known as a place where many new developments in literature, art, and of course music started. Less known to the public might be the fact that at the turn of the 20th century, Vienna was the center of meteorological research in Europe and the Viennese school of theoretical meteorology influenced the development of geophysical fluid dynamics during the whole 20th century. Thus, to us there appears to be no better place for a session on geophysical fluid dynamics than Vienna. On Monday, 3 April 2006, and Thursday, 19 April 2007 the sessions “AS1.05 New aspects of theoretical geophysical fluid dynamics” and “AS1.05 Recent developments of geophysical fluid dynamics” took place in the Austrian Center Vienna, during the General Assemblies of the European Geosciences Union (EGU). Also as regards the time the sessions were fitting well, since meteorologists had a benchmark in 2006, namely the 50 year anniversary of Norman A. Phillips’ numerical simulations of the general circulation of the atmosphere Phillips (1956) (see Fig. 1). For this paper, N. Phillips got the Sir Napier Shaw Memorial Prize and E. T. Eady Sutcliff et al. (1956) remarked that the numerical integrations carried out give us a unique opportunity to study large-scale meteorology as an experimental science. Modern geophysical fluid dynamics includes numerical as well as laboratory experiments and also all the mathematical aspects of flows. In general, the word “geophysical” is used in a broad sense and Tritton and Davies (1981) pointed out that it is unfortunate that there is no single word meaning “geophysical, planetary physical, and astrophysical”. The sessions covered all the aspects mentioned above but had a slight preference towards the fundamental side of rotating Correspondence to: U. Harlander () dynamics’ and ’AS ical fluid dynamics enna, during the G sciences Union (EG were fitting well, s 2006, namely the 50 numerical simulatio sphere (Phillips, 19 got the Sir Napier S cliff and colleagues tegrations carried o large-scale meteoro Modern geophys well as laboratory cal aspects of flow used in a broad sen out that it is unfort ing ’geophysical, pl Fig. 1. First numerical prediction by N.A. Phillips in 1956. Distrisessions covered al of 1000 mb contour height (solid 500 mbin temperFig.bution 1. First numerical prediction by lines) N. A.and Phillips 1956. Distrislight preference to ◦ ature at 5 C intervals (dashed lines) at 11 days. bution of 1000 mb contour height (solid lines) and 500 mb temperstratified flows. Ne ature at 5◦ C intervals (dashed lines) at 11 days. share our satisfactio lection of papers. M Vienna is a fascinating modern city with rich and glorious these proceedings w history and best known as a place where many new develfurther investigation opmentsflows. in literature, art, and of course musicthat started. stratified Nevertheless, we hope the Less reader will known the public might the fact that when at the turn of thethe colshare our tosatisfaction and be enthusiasm reading 20th century, Vienna was the center of meteorological reReferences lection of papers. Moreover, it is hoped and anticipated that search in Europe and the Viennese school of theoretical methese proceedings will be useful to those seeking subjects for N. A.: The teorology influenced the development of geophysical fluid Phillips, further investigation. merical experimen dynamics during the whole 20th century. Thus, to us there appears to be no better place for a session on geophysical fluid dynamics than Vienna. On Monday, April 3, 2006, and Thursday, 19 April, 2007 the sesReferences sions ’AS1.05 New aspects of theoretical geophysical fluid 123–164, 1956. Sutcliff, R. C. and col of the atmosphere : the Roy. Met. Soc. Tritton, D. J. and Da a nudynamics, Topics and J.P. Gollub, Sp 1956. Phillips, N. A.: Theto:general circulation of the atmosphere : Correspondence Uwe Harlander merical experiment, Q. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 82, 123–164, () Sutcliff, R. C., Sheppard, P. A., Eady, E. T., et al.: Discussions: The general circulation of the atmosphere : a numerical experiment, Q. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 82, 535–539, 1956. Tritton, D. J. and Davies, P. A.: Instabilities in geophysical fluid dynamics, in: Topics in Applied Physics, edited by: Swinney, H. L. and Gollub, J. P., Springer, 45, 229–270, 1981. Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union.  (...truncated)