Complete point symmetry group of the barotropic vorticity equation on a rotating sphere

Abstract

The complete point symmetry group of the barotropic vorticity equation on the sphere is determined. The method we use relies on the invariance of megaideals of the maximal Lie invariance algebra of a system of differential equations under automorphisms generated by the associated group. A convenient set of megaideals is found for the maximal Lie invariance algebra of the spherical vorticity equation. We prove that there are only two independent (up to composition with continuous point symmetry transformations) discrete symmetries for this equation.