The
Continuity Equation, applied to the
atmosphere, is simply a rendition of the principle of Conservation of Mass, stating that matter can neither be created
nor destroyed. Yet implying that, again, for the atmosphere, the [constant]
mass may be redistributed. However, air parcels expand and contract as they
respond to pressure changes that may alter their volume in one of two ways:
those that are associated with sounds waves and those which occur in
association with hydrostatic pressure changes; granted that hydrostatic volume
changes are only taken into account when the equation is expressed in (x, y, p)
coordinates.
