Abstract
We transform near-local Hamiltonian balanced models (HBMs) describing nearly geostrophic fluid motion (with constant Coriolis parameter) into multi-symplectic (MS) systems. This allows us to determine conservation of Lagrangian momentum, energy and potential vorticity for Salmon's L1 dynamics; a similar approach works for other near-local balanced models (such as the -model). The MS approach also enables us to determine a class of systems that have a contact structure similar to that of the semigeostrophic model. The contact structure yields a contact transformation that makes the problem of front formation tractable. The new class includes the first local model with a variable Coriolis parameter that preserves all of the most useful geometric features of the semigeostrophic model.