Angular Momentum in the Global Atmospheric Circulation

Abstract

Angular momentum is a variable of central importance to the dynamics of the atmosphere both regionally and globally. Moreover, the angular momentum equations yield a precise description of the dynamic interaction of the atmosphere with the oceans and the solid Earth via various torques as exerted by friction, pressure against the mountains and the nonspherical shape of the Earth, and by gravity. This review presents recent work with respect to observations and the theory of atmospheric angular momentum of large-scale motions. It is mainly the recent availability of consistent global data sets spanning decades that sparked renewed interest in angular momentum. In particular, relatively reliable estimates of the torques are now available. In addition, a fairly wide range of theoretical aspects of the role of angular momentum in atmospheric large-scale dynamics is covered.