ATMS 310

Omega Equation

The calculation of vertical motion in the atmosphere is one of the most challenging
aspects of numerical weather prediction. It is challenging because typical vertical
motions are three orders of magnitude (0.01 m/s vs. 10 m/s) smaller than horizontal
motions.

So far we have learned about the kinematic and adiabatic methods for determining the
vertical velocity. Recall that the kinematic method involved integrating the continuity
equation in the vertical, yielding (in isobaric coordinates):

⎛∂ u ∂v ⎞
ω ( p) = ω ( p s ) + ( p s − p)⎜⎜ + ⎟
⎟ (1)
⎝ ∂x ∂y ⎠p

This allowed us to calculate a vertical velocity by measuring just the large-scale wind and
pressure fields (easy quantities to measure). But, the calculation is very sensitive to
relatively small errors in the wind fields.

The adiabatic method was an alternate method based on the thermodynamic equation:

⎛ ∂T ∂T ∂T ⎞
ω = S p−1 ⎜⎜ +u +v ⎟ (2)
⎝ ∂t ∂x ∂y ⎟⎠

It was an attractive method because only height and temperature data are required to
∂T
calculate a vertical velocity. However, difficulties in accurately calculating , as well
∂t
as concerns when there is strong diabatic heating, make this option less attractive.

We have now discussed a third option for calculating ω – the QG vorticity equation:

∂ζ g v ∂ω
= −V g • ∇(ζ g + f ) + f o (3)
∂t ∂p
v
Both the geostrophic wind ( V g ) and the geostrophic vorticity ( ζ g ) are functions of the
geopotential (Ф) – for example, the geostrophic wind is (from Eq. 6 in the QG_theory
notes): v v
Vg ≡ f o−1k × ∇Φ (4)

∂ω
Therefore, we can find a vertical velocity field ( ) if the geopotential and local change
∂p
∂Φ
of geopotential with time ( ) are known. These quantities are measured every 12-
∂t
hours at widely spaced upper air stations around the world. The problem with this
method is that the quantities are measured every 12 hours at widely spaced upper air
stations around the world. The resolution both in space in time is very coarse; thus,
calculations of vertical velocity are tenuous. It is generally thought, however, that this
method is more accurate than the kinematic method.

We now introduce a new method for calculating the vertical velocity field – the omega
equation. The very nice feature of the omega equation is that the vertical velocity field
can be determined by the instantaneous geopotential (Ф) field. It does not require wind
(as in the kinematic method), vorticity tendency (as in the vorticity equation (Eq. 3)
method, or temperature tendency (as in the adiabatic method) observations. However it
is a much more complicated equation to solve than the others.

The omega equation is derived from the QG vorticity equation and the thermodynamic
equation:

∂ζ g v ∂ω ⎛ ∂ ⎞⎛ ∂φ ⎞ κJ
= −V g • ∇(ζ g + f ) + f o ⎜ + V g • ∇ ⎟⎜⎜ − ⎟⎟ − σω =
∂t ∂p ⎝ ∂T ⎠⎝ ∂p ⎠ p
QG Vorticity Equation QG Thermodynamic Equation

See Holton (p. 165) for the derivation steps. Essentially, the horizontal Laplacian ( ∇ 2 ) is
∂
applied to the thermo equation and the partial with respect to p ( ) is applied to the
∂p
vorticity equation. After subtracting the two and simplifying, the omega equation is
found:

⎛ 2 f o2 ∂ 2 ⎞ fo ∂ ⎡ v ⎛ 1 2 ⎞⎤ 1 2 ⎡ v ⎛ ∂Φ ⎞⎤ κ 2
⎜⎜ ∇ + ⎟
2 ⎟
ω = ⎢V • ∇ ⎜
⎜ ∇ Φ + f ⎟⎟⎥ + ∇ ⎢V g • ∇⎜⎜ − ⎟⎟⎥ − ∇ J (5)
σ ∂p ⎠ σ ∂p ⎣ ⎠⎦ σ ⎝ ∂p ⎠⎦ σp
g
⎝ ⎝ fo ⎣
A B C D

Some simplifications can be done. Some terms in B and C can be cancelled out. The
simplified form of the omega equation is:
v
⎛ 2 f o2 ∂ 2 ⎞ f o ⎡ ∂V g ⎛ 1 ⎞⎤
⎜⎜ ∇ + ⎟⎟ω ≈ ⎢ • ∇⎜⎜ ∇ 2 Φ + f ⎟⎟⎥ (6)
⎝ σ ∂p 2 ⎠ σ ⎢⎣ ∂p ⎝ fo ⎠⎥⎦
A B

TERM A
The forcing of the vertical velocity by the right hand side can be interpreted as follows.
If the right hand side (B) of Eq. (6) is positive, upward motion is forced (and vice
versa). This may seem backwards, since we normally think that upward motion occurs
Dp
when ω ≡ < 0 . But the left hand side of (6) is actually proportional to –ω if certain
Dt
qualitative assumptions are made about the vertical velocity field (see Holton p. 166 for
details).

TERM B v
∂V g
B is the advection of absolute vorticity by the thermal wind (note the term). This
∂p
term can be estimated by figuring out how the vorticity changes along the isotherms.
Upward motion occurs where the vorticity decreases moving left to right along an
isotherm. This pattern shows that upward motion is expected downstream of the upper
level trough – where cyclones are observed to form in the atmosphere. See the figure
below, which illustrates idealized regions of rising (w>0) and sinking (w<0) air for a
developing synoptic-scale system.