Stretched coordinates for quasi-geostrophic inversion ($Z=(N/|f|)z,Q-f={\psi }_{xx}+{\psi }_{yy}+{\psi }_{ZZ}$)

For constant nonzero Coriolis parameter and positive constant buoyancy frequency, the anisotropic quasi-geostrophic potential vorticity operator becomes the ordinary three-dimensional Laplacian in the displayed coordinates. Its decaying whole-space inverse is $\psi (\mathbf{X})=-\int [Q({\mathbf{X}}^{\prime })-f]/(4\pi |\mathbf{X}-{\mathbf{X}}^{\prime }|)d^3{X}^{\prime }$. Boundary or far-field data are needed to exclude arbitrary harmonic additions.

A uniform positive quasi-geostrophic potential vorticity anomaly in a sphere of stretched radius $R$ has the displayed regular, decaying streamfunction. Both it and its radial derivative match at the sphere. In its equatorial plane the horizontal relative vorticity is $2Q_0/3$ inside and $-Q_0{R}^3/(3r^3)$ outside. The exterior potential-vorticity anomaly remains zero because its vertical stretching contribution compensates that relative vorticity. A stretched sphere corresponds to a flattened ellipsoid in physical coordinates when $N\gg |f|$.