Brunt-väisälä frequency

Brunt–Väisälä frequency

The frequency N at which a displaced air parcel will oscillate when displaced vertically within a statically stable environment.

It is given as

where g = 9.8 m s^–1 is gravitational acceleration, θ_υa is the ambient virtual potential temperature, and ∂θ_υa/∂z is the vertical gradient of the ambient virtual potential temperature. Units are radians per second, although this is usually abbreviated as s^–1. This frequency is not defined in statically unstable air and is zero in statically neutral air. The frequency of internal gravity waves in the atmosphere cannot exceed the local Brunt–Väisälä frequency. This frequency is also sometimes used as a measure of the stability within a statically stable environment.

See also buoyancy frequency.

Reference:

Stull, R. B. 1995. Meteorology Today for Scientists and Engineers. 385 pp.

term edited 15 Dec 2014

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