Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2015 / iii / Paper 64 / 2 / a / Solution

Write $D_t={\partial }_t+\mathbf{u}\cdot \nabla$ for the material derivative. For any specific quantity $f$, conservation of mass givesDotting the momentum equation with $\Sigma \mathbf{u}$ produces the kinetic energy balanceThe Coriolis acceleration does no work because $\mathbf{u}\cdot ({\mathbf{e}}_z\times \mathbf{u})=0$. Since the shearing-sheet tidal potential is time-independent, its advected potential-energy density obeysFor the isothermal equation of state, define the barotropic energy density $U=c_s^2\Sigma \ln (\Sigma /{\Sigma }_{\mathrm{ref}})$, with fixed positive reference surface density ${\Sigma }_{\mathrm{ref}}$. The continuity equation impliesAdding these balances combines the two pressure terms into $-\nabla \cdot (P\mathbf{u})$. This establishes isothermal shearing-sheet energy conservation. Thus the conserved energy density and its flux areChoosing the density unit so that ${\Sigma }_{\mathrm{ref}}=1$ reproduces the printed logarithm. Changing the reference adds a multiple of the conserved mass to $E$ and its advective energy flux. The barotropic energy density is the mathematical energy of this fixed-isothermal sound speed closure; it is not the microscopic thermal energy of a thermally isolated gas. Maintaining an isothermal process can require heat exchange.