Iterative solutions of the gradient wind equation

The gradient wind equation from meteorology plays a fundamental role in the understanding of atmospheric dynamics: it describes the circulation associated with high- and low-pressure systems as well as the flow of the jet stream. While it is easily solved analytically, iterative solutions of the gra...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Computers & geosciences 2006-06, Vol.32 (5), p.656-662
Main Authors: Knox, John A., Ohmann, Paul R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Areal geology. Maps
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Education
Exact sciences and technology
External geophysics
Geologic maps, cartography
Gradient wind
Iterative methods
Meteorology
Numerical methods
Winds and their effects
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Summary:The gradient wind equation from meteorology plays a fundamental role in the understanding of atmospheric dynamics: it describes the circulation associated with high- and low-pressure systems as well as the flow of the jet stream. While it is easily solved analytically, iterative solutions of the gradient wind equation illustrate many of the characteristics of numerical solutions to the full dynamical equations, including convergence, dependence on initial conditions, and the impact of different solution approaches on the character of the solution. We explore these properties of the gradient wind equation, and in so doing rectify an error in the research literature. Our analysis should be of particular interest to teachers of computational methods in the geosciences as well as their students.
ISSN:0098-3004
1873-7803
DOI:10.1016/j.cageo.2005.09.009