THE OBSERVED MEAN MONTHLY WIND FIELDS IN THE LOWER STRATOSPHERE AND UPPER TROPOSPHERE OVER NORTH AMERICA

Abstract

The mean monthly wind fields at five different levels from the 300-mb surface to the 30-mb surface were constructed from rawinsonde data taken by stations in North America and adjacent waters over the four year period from 1951 to 1954. These wind fields are represented by streamlines and isotachs on isobaric maps. The general features of these wind fields at January and July as revealed by these maps are discussed. The detailed features of these fields, such as the variation of the mean wind components with latitude, longitude or time, are scrutinized and made obvious by diagrams.