On the problem of boundary conditions in isentropic coordinates

The main advantages of constant potential enthalpy as a vertical coordinate are weaker horizontal velocity gradients in frontal regions and a higher vertical resolution. A disadvantage is the intersection of isentropes with the ground and folding of these surfaces. A numerical model is proposed to overcome the difficulties imposed by the intersection of isentropes with the ground. The model contains a physical and computational domain. The top and bottom surfaces of the computational domain are isentropes whereas the physical domain of the flow confined above by a free surface of constant pressure, and the bottom of this domain is the surface of the earth. In the present study the top surfaces of these two domains coincide (θ _T, P_Tare constants in space and time). The model was tested for the study of frontogenesis and cyclogenesis and integrated for 7 days. The results correspond to enstrophy-conserving finite difference scheme.