ENERGY,ENERGY FLUX AND LAGRANGIAN OF ROSSBY WAVE

The energy flux derived from the barotropic vorticity equation differs from that obtained directly from the momentum equation.We re-study this problem raised in the early 1960s.The results show that if the momentum equation is rewritten in such a way that it contains the same conditions as that for the barotropic vorticity equation,then the same form of average energy flux can be obtained for the waves with constant amplitudes.With this new momentum equation,the potential energy of Rossby wave is derived and Lagrangian of nonlinear barotropic vorticity equation can be approximately found with this potential energy.This provides a physical basis for studying the dynamics of nonlinear Rossby wave with the approach of calculus of variation.