LARGE-SCALE BALANCE OF KINETIC ENERGY IN THE ATMOSPHERE

Abstract

The vertical distribution and seasonal variation of the kinetic energy balance of the atmosphere are studied. From 11 months' daily wind and geopotential data during 1962 and 1963 over North America, the generation due to the work done by the horizontal pressure force, the local change, the horizontal outflow, and the vertical transport are evaluated for 20 pressure layers from the surface to 50 mb. The dissipation is then obtained as the residual to balance the kinetic energy equation.