English

An improved approximation for the moist-air entropy potential temperature $\theta_s$

Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics 2015-03-10 v1 Fluid Dynamics Geophysics

Abstract

The moist-air entropy is defined in Marquet (QJRMS 2011, arXiv:1401.1097) by s=sref+cpdln(θs)\boxed{s = s_{ref} + c_{pd} \: \ln(\theta_{s})} in terms of two constant values (srefs_{ref}, cpdc_{pd}) and a potential entropy temperature denoted by θs\theta_s. It is shown in Marquet (2011) that a quantity denoted by (θs)1({\theta}_{s})_1 plays the role of a leading order approximation of θs{\theta}_{s}. The aim of this note is to demonstrate in a more rigorous way that (θs)1({\theta}_{s})_1 is indeed the leading order approximation of θs{\theta}_{s}, and to derive a second order approximation which may be used in computations of values, gradients or turbulent fluxes of moist-air entropy. Some impacts of this second order approximation are described in this brief version of a note to be submitted to the QJRMS.

Cite

@article{arxiv.1503.02287,
  title  = {An improved approximation for the moist-air entropy potential temperature $\theta_s$},
  author = {Pascal Marquet},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1503.02287},
  year   = {2015}
}

Comments

2 pages, 3 figures, submitted for a WGNE "Blue Book" publication

R2 v1 2026-06-22T08:46:57.702Z