ESS229
Prof. Jin-Yi Yu
Scalar and Vector
•Many
physical quantities in the atmosphere are described entirely in terms of magnitude, known as scalars (such as pressure
and temperature).
•There
are other physical quantities (such as 3D-wind or gradient of scalar) are characterized by both magnitude and direction, such quantities are known as vectors.
•Any
description of the fluid atmosphere contains reference to both scalars and vectors.
•The
mathematical descriptions of these quantities are known as vector
analysis.