ON THE BAROCLINE STRUCTURE OF THE WESTERLIES

Abstract

In view of the limitations of synoptic analysis, a new statistical method has been developed and applied to the study of the structure of the westerlies. Preliminary investigations of the wind structure over central Canada and the British Isles are discussed. A detailed study of the structure of the westerlies over Great Britain, with use of data for Penzance, is described. Winter cross-sections, averaged in a coordinate system which moves with the 500-mb temperature field, are produced. These show clearly the fields of wind and solenoids in the troposphere and lower stratosphere, and confirm the relationship between the jet stream and the major frontal surface found by Palmén.