Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2012 / iii / Paper 61 / 3 / iii / Solution

Write $B=2\Omega -S$, $A(t)=c_s^2-2\pi G{\Sigma }_0/k(t)$, and $w=i{k}_x{\tilde{v}}_y-i{k}_y{\tilde{v}}_x$. Differentiation, including ${\dot{k}}_x=S{k}_y$, givesThe two pressure/self-gravity cross terms cancel. Continuity gives ${\dot{\tilde{\Sigma }}}^{\prime }=-i{\Sigma }_0(k_x{\tilde{v}}_x+k_y{\tilde{v}}_y)$, so $\dot{w}=B{\dot{\tilde{\Sigma }}}^{\prime }/{\Sigma }_0$. ConsequentlyThe conserved amplitude is linearized vortensity: the perturbation of the absolute vertical vorticity divided by surface density,A two-dimensional inviscid barotropic fluid materially conserves this potential vorticity. Both pressure enthalpy and gravitational forces are gradients, so they create no baroclinic vorticity source. Since $q_0$ is uniform, its linear perturbation obeys $D_0{q}^{\prime }=0$, explaining why a shearing wave has constant vortensity amplitude.