Circulation

The circulation of a function is the summation of the values it takes at each point on a closed curve (a loop), which is also known as its line integral over a contour. For a conservative vector field, the circulation is zero, but the circulation of the velocity of a fluid is rarely zero.

A mathematical expression for the circulation of the vector Pi + Qj is over contour C:

$\oint _{C}(P\,\mathrm {d} x+Q\,\mathrm {d} y)$

Green's Theorem provides a method for easily calculating circulations.

See also

• Atmospheric general circulation model