Point symmetry group of the barotropic vorticity equation

Abstract

The complete point symmetry group of the barotropic vorticity equation on the $\beta$-plane is computed using the direct method supplemented with two different techniques. The first technique is based on the preservation of any megaideal of the maximal Lie invariance algebra of a differential equation by the push-forwards of point symmetries of the same equation. The second technique involves a priori knowledge on normalization properties of a class of differential equations containing the equation under consideration. Both of these techniques are briefly outlined.