Mathematics of the atmosphere on a large scale

Abstract:

Being able to accurately predict the weather is both important and mathematically challenging due to the amount of forces and effects present in the atmosphere. There are a variety of approximations used for different scales; from local weather systems to hurricanes. The purpose of this talk will be to give a flavour of the thought processes behind such approximations, and how they are applied to so-called "large scale atmospheric flows". From Euler's equations for fluid motion, we derive the Semigeostrophic (SG) equations, a model predominantly used to describe the formation and movement of weather fronts. We will then explain how the SG Equations are used by the Met Office and discuss why we, as mathematicians, find them interesting in terms of trying to perform analysis on them.