ESS227
Prof. Jin-Yi Yu
Balanced
Flows
Cyclostrophic
Flow
Geostrophic
Flow
Gradient
Flow
Rossby Number
Small
~ 1
Large
Despite the apparent complexity of atmospheric
motion systems as depicted on
synoptic weather charts, the pressure (or
geopotential height) and velocity distributions
in meteorological disturbances are actually related by rather simple approximate force balances.