Jump to content

Ageostrophy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ageostrophy or (ageostrophic flow) is the difference between the actual wind or current and the geostrophic wind or geostrophic current.[1][2] Since geostrophy is an exact balance between the Coriolis force and the pressure gradient force, ageostrophic flow reflects an imbalance, and thus is often implicated in disturbances, vertical motions (important for weather), and rapid changes with time. Ageostrophic flow reflects the existence of all the other terms in the momentum equation neglected in that idealization, including friction and material acceleration Dv/Dt, which includes the centrifugal force in curved flow.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Douglass, E. M.; Richman, J. G. (March 2015). "Analysis of ageostrophy in strong surface eddies in the Atlantic Ocean". Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans. 120 (3): 1490–1507. Bibcode:2015JGRC..120.1490D. doi:10.1002/2014JC010350. S2CID 130216517.
  2. ^ Kontoyiannis, Harilaos; Watts, D. Randolph (1990). "Ageostrophy and pressure work in the Gulf Stream at 73°W". Journal of Geophysical Research. 95 (C12): 22209. Bibcode:1990JGR....9522209K. doi:10.1029/JC095iC12p22209. ISSN 0148-0227.
[edit]