 Diabatically forced quasi-geostrophic potential vorticity

For a Boussinesq approximation, constant buoyancy frequency $N$, and buoyancy heating rate $R$, the quasi-geostrophic potential-vorticity equation becomes $D_{g}q/Dt=(f_0/N^2)R_z$, where $q={\nabla }_h^2\psi +(f_0^2/N^2){\psi }_{zz}+\beta y$. Heating changes the vertical gradient of buoyancy and therefore produces a potential-vorticity tendency proportional to its height derivative.