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Q-vectors are used in atmospheric dynamics to understand physical processes such as vertical motion and frontogenesis. Q-vectors are not physical quantities that can be measured in the atmosphere but are derived from the quasi-geostrophic equations and can be used in the previous diagnostic situations. On meteorological charts, Q-vectors point toward upward motion and away from downward motion. Q-vectors are an alternative to the omega equation for diagnosing vertical motion in the quasi-geostrophic equations. ==Derivation== First derived in 1978, Q-vector derivation can be simplified for the midlatitudes, using the midlatitude β-plane quasi-geostrophic prediction equations: # (x component of quasi-geostrophic momentum equation) # (y component of quasi-geostrophic momentum equation) # (quasi-geostrophic thermodynamic equation) And the thermal wind equations: (x component of thermal wind equation) (y component of thermal wind equation) where is the Coriolis parameter, approximated by the constant 1e−4 s−1; is the atmospheric ideal gas constant; is the latitudinal change in the Coriolis parameter ; is a static stability parameter; is the specific heat at constant pressure; is pressure; is temperature; anything with a subscript indicates geostrophic; anything with a subscript indicates ageostrophic; is a diabatic heating rate; and is the Lagrangian rate change of pressure with time. . Note that because pressure decreases with height in the atmosphere, a is upward vertical motion, analogous to . From these equations we can get expressions for the Q-vector: And in vector form: Plugging these Q-vector equations into the quasi-geostrophic omega equation gives: Which in an adiabatic setting gives: Expanding the left-hand side of the quasi-geostrophic omega equation in a Fourier Series gives the above, implying that a relationship with the right-hand side of the quasi-geostrophic omega equation can be assumed. This expression shows that the divergence of the Q-vector () is associated with downward motion. Therefore, convergent forces ascend and divergent forces descend. Q-vectors and all ageostrophic flow exist to preserve thermal wind balance. Therefore, low level Q-vectors tend to point in the direction of low-level ageostrophic winds. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア(Wikipedia)』 ■ウィキペディアで「Q-Vectors」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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