Transport and Dynamics

7.6 Summary

The material in this chapter necessarily represents only a brief overview of a few examples from the evolving range of studies in geophysical fluid dynamics that make use of the conceptual approach outlined in this text. It is clear already from these results that new insights can be gained into the kinematics and dynamics of jets, waves, and other geophysical flows using this approach. It is equally clear that the concepts and numerical techniques that allow systematic investigations of this type are only now emerging. In a general way, this perspective serves also to illustrate and emphasize that the relations between Eulerian and Lagrangian motions, and between their different representations in numerical simulations of geophysical flows, can be subtle and still offer much room for exploration. We believe that this approach to the analysis of fluid flows promises many more insights into the motions that surround us in the ocean and atmosphere, and we hope that the material presented here will be useful to those who seek those insights.