A comparison of geopotential vs. wind input for a diagnostic numerical model.

Abstract

A diagnostic multi-level, non-linear balance model, which can be used in either tropical or mid-latitude regions, is applied to a case study in a mid-latitude region on 15, 16 and 17 November 1966. The model accepts actual geopotential heights or geopotentil heights derived from a non-divergent stream function which is computed from the actual wind field as input data. A comparison is made between non-divergent stream functions computed from the wind field and those computed from the actual geopotential height field. A second comparison is made between the actual geopotential height field and the geopotential height field computed from the wind field. Qualitative and quantitative comparisons are made between the stream functions and geopotential heights, respectively, computed by the two different methods. By making the above mentioned comparisons, a determination is made as to the accuracy of the model using wind data and finally the accuracy of the model in the tropics , The results indicate that use of the wind field as input data may not produce accurate results.Lieutenant, United States Navyhttp://archive.org/details/acomparisonofgeo109451180