THE DYNAMICS OF A VORTEX EMBEDDED IN A CONSTANT ZONAL CURRENT

Abstract

The condition that the absolute vorticity be conserved is applied to the model of a symmetric vortex embedded in a constant zonal current. It is shown that the radial variation of the rotational component of the wind must then be according to the first-order Bessel function. The speed of propagation of the model vortex is found as a by-product of this result. Finally it is shown that the maximum wind in such a model can be determined from the depth of the corresponding pressure-height field and the size of the vortex.