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Use the Euler equations for an inviscid fluid with no magnetic or gravitational force. Let $w$ denote specific enthalpy. For a homentropic flow, $dw=dp/\rho$, so the pressure acceleration is $-\nabla w$. The velocity identitytherefore givesTaking the curl, using that the curl of a gradient is zero and that differentiation commutes for smooth fields, proves barotropic vorticity transport:More generally the same proof works for any barotropic fluid, replacing $w$ by a pressure potential ${\int }^{\rho }{p}^{\prime }(s)ds/s$. Here “isentropic” must supply this barotropic closure, for example through one common specific entropy throughout the fluid. Merely imposing entropy advection equation $Ds/Dt=0$ allows spatial specific entropy gradients; in that case the vorticity equation contains the additional baroclinic vorticity generation term ${\rho }^{-2}\nabla \rho \times \nabla p$.

Let $\mathbf{\zeta }=\nabla \times \mathbf{u}$ and $\mathbf{\omega }=\mathbf{\zeta }+2\Omega {\mathbf{e}}_z$ be the relative vorticity and absolute vorticity. The nonlinear acceleration identity rewrites the momentum equation asTaking the curl removes the pressure, kinetic energy gradient and shearing-sheet tidal potential. ThusBoth $\nabla \cdot \mathbf{u}$ and $\nabla \cdot \mathbf{\omega }$ vanish. The vorticity equation is consequentlyFor the absolute-vorticity flux tensor $T_{ij}=u_i{\omega }_j-{\omega }_i{u}_j$, use the flux convention $(\nabla \cdot \mathbf{T}{)}_j={\partial }_i{T}_{ij}$, with the first index denoting transport direction. This givesThe scalar $\theta$ is a buoyancy displacement variable, so dimensional consistency gives it units of length; the printed potential-temperature terminology presupposes this normalization. Its curl source directly forces only the $y,z$ components of absolute vorticity. Hence radial vorticity conservation in a shearing sheet takes the local flux formIts volume integral is constant when the net boundary flux vanishes. However $D_t{\omega }_x=\mathbf{\omega }\cdot \nabla u_x$ still permits vortex stretching; the radial component is not generally a materially conserved scalar in three dimensions. Using divergence on the second index of the stated tensor would reverse the transport sign, so the tensor convention matters.

The velocity field is incompressible becauseWith the convention $u_x={\psi }_y$ and $u_y=-{\psi }_x$, a stream function isThe vorticity is vertical:For a steady inviscid incompressible flow, the vorticity equation is $(\mathbf{u}\cdot \nabla )\mathbf{\omega }=(\mathbf{\omega }\cdot \nabla )\mathbf{u}$. Here the right side is zero because the flow is independent of $z$, while the left side is $2(\mathbf{u}\cdot \nabla \psi ){\mathbf{e}}_z=0$ because velocity is tangent to the level sets of $\psi$. Thus the equation is satisfied.

The streamlines are the level curves $\sin x\sin y=\text{constant}$. The lines $x=\pi$ and $y=\pi$, together with the boundary, are separatrices; each of the four cells contains closed nested curves around a centre at $(\pi /2,\pi /2)$, $(3\pi /2,\pi /2)$, $(\pi /2,3\pi /2)$, or $(3\pi /2,3\pi /2)$.

The vorticity is normal to the plane, so the stretching term vanishes. Axisymmetry also makes angular advection vanish, and part (a) gives no radial advection. Hence the scalar vorticity equation is the radial diffusion equation

Letbe the vertical absolute vorticity. Taking the vertical curl of the momentum equation removes both the tidal potential and the isothermal pressure force, because each is a gradient field. The two-dimensional vorticity equation isThe surface-density equation isThe quotient rule now givesSince $\zeta =W/\Sigma$ is the vortensity,

For incompressible inviscid flow without body force,Taking curl givesequivalently ${\partial }_t\omega =\nabla \times (u\times \omega )$.

Direct differentiation of the stated field gives $\omega =u$. Hence $u\times \omega =0$, so the vorticity equation gives ${\partial }_t\omega =0$ and the field is steady. FinallyEuler's equation therefore impliesso $H$ is spatially uniform.

Taking the curl of the Boussinesq momentum equation and using incompressibility gives the vorticity equationThe second term on the right is baroclinic vorticity generation. It is nonzero where a horizontal density gradient crosses the vertical gravitational acceleration.