Deducing the Wind from Vorticity and Divergence

Abstract

The horizontal wind field may be deduced from the vorticity and divergence by solving Poisson equations for the velocity potential and streamfunction or, more directly, by the solution of a single Poisson equally accurate. If the domain is of limited extent, boundary conditions must be specified. It is sufficient to prescribe a single component of the boundary velocity. Methods which use both components overdetermine the solution and may not converge in general.