Objective Cross-Section Analyses by Hermite Polynomial Interpolation on Isentropic Surfaces

Abstract

An objective cross-section analysis scheme based upon Hermite Polynomial interpolation on surfaces of constant potential temperature is shown to define frontal-scale horizontal and vertical gradients of potential temperature and geostrophic wind using synoptic upper air sounding observations as input data. The objective routine was also found applicable to analysis of the thermal properties of oceanic frontal zones from bathythermograph sounding data. Calculations of potential vorticity, vertical wind shear, and Richardson number suggest the usefulness of the objective scheme for real-time specification of regions of stratospheric-tropospheric mass exchange and probable locations of jet-stream, frontal-zone-related, clear-air turbulence.