Potential vorticity is a fundamental quantity in fluid dynamics, especially in the study of atmospheric and oceanic sciences. It combines the concepts of vorticity, which is a measure of the rotation of a fluid, with stratification effects related to potential temperature or density.
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Potential vorticity combines vorticity with vortex stretching and density stratification. It also applies to nonrotating stratified flow through Ertel potential vorticity. In the inviscid shallow water equations,where is relative vorticity and is layer thickness.