Scale Analysis and Geostrophic Balance - lecture 3

Question 1

Ro (not R_{0})

Answer 1

Rossby number
measures the validity of the geostrophic approximation for a rotating fluid system using the velocity (U), size (L) and Coriolis (f).

Question 2

Troposphere

Answer 2

the area of atmosphere where most clouds are, its height is 6-20km

Question 3

Geopotential (height)

Answer 3

Gravity-adjusted height

Geopotential (phi)= integral (0 to h) of gravity with respect to z

geopotential height (Z) = phi/gravity

Question 4

Thickness

Answer 4

the difference in Z (geopotential height) between two pressure levels

Question 5

thermal wind

Answer 5

Thermal wind flows along isotherms/thickness lines with warm air on RHS in the Northern Hemisphere.

Question 6

potential temperature

Answer 6

Pressure- adjusted temp

The temperature of a parcel of dry air (mot 100% humidity) that has hypothetically been taken from its initial pressure to p_0 (usually 100 kPa), adiabatically and without loss of mass.

Potential temp always increases with the increase of pressure.

Question 7

layer-mean temperature

Answer 7

mean temperature between pressure layers

Question 8

isotherms

Answer 8

lines on a map connecting points having the same temperature at a given time

Question 9

shear

Answer 9

wind shear is a sudden change in wind velocity and/or direction over a short distance, often described in the horizontal or vertical.

Question 10

Z

Answer 10

geopotential height

Question 11

Phi Φ

Answer 11

geopotential