Remarks on the progress of general circulation studies

Abstract

A brief sketch of the development of terrestrial atmospheric general circulation studies is given in such fashion as to illuminate the current thinking and research being performed on the subject. The successive stages of progress are examined from the point of view of the search for better formulations of the problem, which would lessen the chance of erroneous closure assumptions. It becomes obvious that according to this criterion the primitive equation solutions represent the best numerical treatment. Stress is placed upon the necessity of observational studies to give us, ideally at least, the most correct picture of the mechanics of the general circulation—a contention amply attested to by the history of the subject. Some suggestions for future theoretical and observational research are included.DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1973.tb01589.x