On the contribution of a limited region to the global energy budget

Abstract

Energy budget equations applicable to any limited atmospheric region are developed employing the concept of available potential energy. These equations contain, in addition to the customary generation, conversion, and dissipation terms, expressions for the boundary fluxes.

Utilizing Lorenz's definition of available potential energy, the energetics of the limited region are defined as the contribution that the region makes to the global energy budget. This allows one to examine energy processes in a limited region in terms of their relation to the energetics of the general circulation.