ESS227
Prof. Jin-Yi Yu
Gradient
Balance
•Horizontal frictionless flow that is parallel to the height contours so that the tangential acceleration vanishes (DV/Dt = 0) is called gradient flow.
•Gradient flow is a three-way balance among the Coriolis force, the centrifugal force, and the horizontal pressure gradient force.
•The gradient wind is often a better approximation to the actual wind than the geostrophic wind.
