COMPUTATION AND USES OF GRADIENT WINDS

Abstract

The viewpoint is taken that in large portions of the atmosphere, wind speeds (Vgr), divergence (Dgr), and vorticity (?gr) obtained under the gradient wind assumption are considerably more accurate representations of true conditions than those one obtains from the geostrophic assumption. Equations are derived for computing Vgr, Dgr, and ?gr. The equation for the vorticity of gradient winds has a considerable resemblance to ?balance? equations of Charney [3] and Phillips [17]. Gradient winds and their space derivatives may have advantages over other formulations due to their relative simplicity. The quantities Vgr, Dgr, and ?gr may be computed quite easily from geopotential data at grid points by use of high-speed computers. Possible applications of gradient winds in practical and theoretical meteorology are suggested.