Generalized Static Energy and Its Conservation

Abstract

The theoretical study presented here shows that it is possible to define an energetic parameter that generalizes the dry, saturated, and moist static energies. The properties of the generalized static energy (GSE) are similar to those of dry, saturated, and moist static energies, but GSE can be used in cloudy systems including water vapor, liquid water, and ice, as well as in nonequilibrium conditions. It is shown that GSE is directly related to the entropy and that it is reduced to dry, saturated, and moist static energies when appropriate assumptions are made. It is also shown that GSE is a conservative parameter when irreversibility and mass flux do not exist or are ignored.