Two-Point Wind Correlations on an Isobaric Surface in a Nonhomogeneous Non-Isotropic Atmosphere

Abstract

The approximate relations between the correlation coefficient for geopotential, the longitudinal wind component, and the transverse wind component on an isobaric surface in the case of an homogeneous isotropic atmosphere are discussed briefly. Corresponding approximate relations for a nonhomogeneous and non-isotropic atmosphere are presented. The mixed correlations for wind component (longitudinal with transverse, and vice versa) are no longer identically zero (as was the case for the homogeneous isotropic atmosphere). Approximate expressions for these mixed correlation coefficient functions are presented in terms of the correlation coefficient for geopotential. It is shown that the general configuration of values computed from observed winds are those expected from theoretical considerations.