Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 November 2006
An exact, local expression is obtained for the available energy density for axisymmetric motion of a compressible, stratified fluid. Under certain stated conditions the available energy density is positive definite; this fact can be used to demonstrate the stability of an appropriately defined reference state to finite-amplitude axisymmetric disturbances. The theory extends certain previous results on available energy and axisymmetric stability that are valid only for small-amplitude disturbances.