Potential vorticity

Potential vorticity (PV) is a fluid mechanics quantity proportional to the dot product of vorticity and stratification. For a parcel of air or water, it can be changed only by diabatic or frictional processes. PV helps explain vorticity generation during cyclogenesis and supports analysis of ocean flow. In meteorology, it is used to understand rotating fluid motion, diagnose weather, trace air-parcel dynamics, and analyze synoptic-scale features.

The picture on this card was made with AI. It is an illustration, not a real photo of the subject.

Field

Fluid mechanics

Changes caused by

Diabatic or frictional processes

Weather use

Operational weather diagnosis