Dynamic Meteorology, Department of Applied Meteorology

Bogor Agricultural University

Thermal Wind
Sandro Wellyanto Lubis

Bogor Agricultural University

Department of Meteorology and Geophysic
HH Sandro.lubis@live.com , +62856634415/+6281385644350
HH

March 1 , 2009

Abstract
One of the layer on earth which is very mysterious to be studied is atmosphere. It consist of
various type of layer charactheristic and system which always move to a equilibrium point.
One of the system is the wind. Discussing about the wind its very related with dynamic
meteorology that is the study of the motion of the atmosphere that are associated with
weather and climate. At this moment I will describe the thermal wind balance, derive the key
equation and apply this concept on the movement of thermal wind prediction.

1. The Thermal Wind Equation in so:   

Geopotential Isobaric Coordinate 0    P Φ  f k x Vg
  
f( k x Vg )    P Φ
Firstly, before we try to get the solution of
thermal wind equation we have to find the   1 
geostrophic wind equation and the vector (k x Vg )    P Φ
difference between geostrophic winds at
f
two levels will form the thermal wind
   1 
k x(k x Vg )   k x  P Φ
equation. f

1 
We know that the momentum equation in Vg  k x  P Φ
isobaric coordinate system for frictionless f
large-scale quasi horizontal flow is:

The thermal wind is defined as geostrophic
D VH    winds vertical derivative (since p is now
 P Φ  f k x V H independent) is:
Dt
Remember that in the balance of
    
 (fVg )  (k x  P Φ)
D VH p p
geosthropic wind = 0 or constant
Dt 
  

f Vg  (k x  P Φ)
because a geostrophic flow is defined as a p p
frictionless (Large Reynolds number), 
shallow, low Rossby number flow. Since  Vg   Φ
the Rossby number is small we neglect f  (k x  P )
acceleration effects. p p

Hydrostatic relation can be written as:

Sandro Wellyanto Lubis, Thermal Wind 1

Bachelor Programme of Applied Meteorology
Dynamic Meteorology, Department of Applied Meteorology
Bogor Agricultural University

1 p
 g P1 P1
ρ z
 Tlnp  Tlnp
RdT z Φ  T  Po
 Po
 g  P1
p p p lnp ln P1

Po
P0
P1
Then, use the hydrostatic equation to P 
complete the thermal wind equation:   Tlnp   T  ln 1 
 Po  Po 
 Vg RdT
 
f  (k x  P  ) Finally we can get the Thermal equation
p p

 Vg Rd  
p  ( k x  P T)  Rd   P
p f VT   k x  P  T  ln 1
f Po

 Vg Rd  
 k xP T  Rd   P
lnp f VT  k x  P  T  ln 0
f P1

The equation above, in some case its

difficult to be solved. So, we need the
solution in simple form:  T    T 

 Rd   
 Vg  ( k x  P T ) lnp k 
f VT

Vg 1 P1 T 
 Rd  
  Vg   ( k x  P T ) lnp 

 Po
f V p T   V g1
Vg 0 V go
P1
  Rd  
Vg 1  Vg 0  (  k x  P )  Tlnp
f Po  T    T 
 Rd   P1
VT   k xP  Tlnp
f Po
2. The Thermal Wind Equation in
Level Coordinate (z as Vertical
coordinate)

By calculus, we can solve this form The thermal wind is depend on the vertical
shear of the geostrophic wind on the
P1 temperature structure of the atmosphere,
Tlnp so firstly lets see the motion equation for

Po
frictionless is defined as


P1 DVH
<T> 1  
  H p  f k x VH
P0 DT ρ
1  
0   H p  f k x V g
ρ

Sandro Wellyanto Lubis, Thermal Wind 2

Bachelor Programme of Applied Meteorology
Dynamic Meteorology, Department of Applied Meteorology
Bogor Agricultural University

  1 1 p 1 ρ 1 R 1 T
f(k x V g )    H p   
ρ p z ρ z R z T z
  1  1 ρ 1 p 1 T
(k x V g )    H p  
ρf ρ z p z T z
   1   1 ρ  ρg 1 T
k x(k x V g)   (k x  H p)  
ρf ρ z p T z
  
1 1 ρ  g 1 T
V g  (k x  H p)  
ρf ρ z RT T z

 
After we find the geostrophic equation, Now  H p   H ( RT)
derive the equation with respect to z:  


 H p  R  H ( T)
Vg 1     
 (k x  H p)  H p  RT  H   Rρ  H T
z ρf

Vg 1   1   p
  2 k x H p  k x H p Now combine these equation:
z ρ f ρf z
Remember hydrostatic relation
p 
=- ρg Vg 1 p  g  
z  Vg  k x  H ρ
z ρ z ρf
so,

Vg 1   1  
 g  1 T  g  1  ρ
  2 k x  H p  k x  H p(ρg) VT  Vg  Vg  k x(  H p   H T)
z ρf ρf RT T z ρf RT T

Vg  g  1 T  g 1  


VT  Vg  Vg  ( k x  H p) 
RT T z RT ρf
 Vg 1 p 1   1  
 ( )( k x H p) k x H(ρg)
z ρ z ρf ρf gρ   
k x  H T) Vg
ρf T

 1 p  g   g  1 T  g  g  
VT   Vg  k x  H ρ VT  Vg  Vg  Vg  k xH T
ρ z ρf RT T z RT fT

This equation of thermal wind can be

change in to another form by using the  1 T  g  
equation of state where p  RT VT  Vg  k xH T
T z fT
Lets change this form:

lnp  lnρ  lnR  lnT This last equation clearly exhibits the
dependence of the vertical shear of the
    geostrophic wind on the temperature
(lnp)  (lnρ)  (lnR) (lnT)
z z z z structure of the atmosphere.

Sandro Wellyanto Lubis, Thermal Wind 3

Bachelor Programme of Applied Meteorology
Dynamic Meteorology, Department of Applied Meteorology
Bogor Agricultural University

3. The Thermal Wind Equation in

T0 Isobaric Coordinate ( p as Vertical
 Coordinate)
VT
T0  T By modification the equation of motion to
isobaric coordinate where the pressure

H T gradient is transformed because pressure as
vertical coordinate, we get new equation of
motion:
Prediction of Thermal Wind Direction in 
the Northern Hemisphere. D VH   
  g  p z  f k x VH
Dt
The temperatures in this thermal equation By approaching of geostrophic wind, where
should actually be virtual temperatuires,
the geostrophic wind is the wind which
but difference between actual temperature would exist if the flow were totally
and virtual temperature is usually quite 
small in the free atmosphere, and we use D VH
the dry air temperature (T) in practice unaccelerated thus 0 and
(Riegel, 1992). Dt
 
By empirical observation or scaling
analysis, we can see that the first terms in
V H  V g , and the result we will
are negligible relative to the horizontal obtain the geostrophic wind in p-
temperature terms so we can approximate coordinate :
our results as:
  
0   g  p z  f k x VH
 g     
VT  k xH T f k x VH   g  p z
fT
 
g
k x VH    p z
f
1 T 
In Riegel (1992), the first term Vg    g  
T z k x(k x VH )   (k x  p z)
f
depends largely on the static stability of
the atmosphere and is usually less than
 g  
 Vg   (k x  p z)
f
g    g 
1/10 of the second term k x H T , Vg  k x  p z
fT f
so the first term from the equation can To obtain the thermal wind equation we
be neglected. have to derive this equation (since p is now
independent). Its vertical derive is


Vg g   z
Colder air  k xp Hydrostatic
o
p f p equation
T  21 C 
VT
o
22 C Vg g    α
 k x  p   
23o C p f  g
V g z1  V g z2 
T 24o C 
Warmer air Vg 1 
  k x p α
p f

Sandro Wellyanto Lubis, Thermal Wind 4

Bachelor Programme of Applied Meteorology
Dynamic Meteorology, Department of Applied Meteorology
Bogor Agricultural University


 V g In spherical coordinate the geostrophic
VT   balance may be written as:
p  1 
 fv g   
x a cos  

1    1 
VT  k x p  fu g   
f y a 

The negative sign in front of V g / p
Combining these with hydrostatic
arises from the fact that although pressure
increases downward we are interested in balance, ∂  /∂z=b, it will give:
the variation of geostrophic wind with
increasing height (i.e. decreasing presure)
(Riegel, 1992).
vg b 1 b
Now, using the equation of state where  f  
p=ρRT or pα=RT so : z x a cos  
ug b 1 b
 1    RT  f  
VT  k x  p   z y a 
f  p 

1 R These equations are known as the
VT  k x  p T thermal wind balance and the vertical
f p derivative of the geostrophic wind is the
thermal wind.
 R  
VT  k xp T
fp
5. Application of Thermal Wind

The thermal wind as we know is vector

T T  T difference between geostrophic winds
at two levels.

 
VT or ( k x p T )


p T
The Thermal wind on an isobaric surface
nothern hemisphere (f>0)

4. The Thermal Wind Equation in

Spherical Coordinate

Thermal wind balance arises by

combining the geosthropic and
hydrostatic approximations, and this The thickness of a layer between two
most easily done in context of the isobaric surfaces is proportional to the
anelastic (or Boussinesq) equation. temperature of the layer. The thermal
wind is parallel to the isotherms with

Sandro Wellyanto Lubis, Thermal Wind 5

Bachelor Programme of Applied Meteorology
Dynamic Meteorology, Department of Applied Meteorology
Bogor Agricultural University

warm air to the right facing

  
downstream
VT  V g 1  V g o

VT  (10iˆ  10 ˆj )m / s
 Rd   P
VT  k x  P  T  ln 0
f P1

287 ˆ  900
(10iˆ  10 ˆj )  4
k x  P  T  ln
10 700
287  900
10iˆ  10 ˆj   4 kˆ x  P  T  ln
10 700
287  900
14.14  4 kˆ  p  T  sin 90 ln
10 700

 p  T   1.96 K / 100 km
 1.96 o C / 100km

Directional changes of the thermal

wind with height can be used tofind if
warm air or cold air advection is And the direction is
occurring in the layer.
  1.96 o C 1 .96 o C 
If the Geostrophic Wind is:  P  T   Cos 225 iˆ  Sin 225 ˆj 
 100 km 100 km 
Veering with height = WAA
Backing with height = CAA
Or we have another way is
Problems 1:

Determine the mean temperature

gradient between isobaric 900 hPa and
700 hPa if the geostrophic wind at 900
 Rd   P
VT  k x  P  T  ln 0
hPa level is 1o m/s , northward; and the f P1
geostrophic wind at 700 hPa level is 10
m/s and westerly.   1 
k x  P  T  VT
Rd P0
Answer: ln
 f P1
Vg o

VT

   1  
k x k x  P  T    k x VT
  Rd ln P0
2250 f P1
 
p T V g1

Sandro Wellyanto Lubis, Thermal Wind 6

Bachelor Programme of Applied Meteorology
 Dynamic Meteorology, Department of Applied Meteorology
Bogor Agricultural University

At 844 hpa (1524m)winds are 28 kts at

315 degrees

      1   To solve this problems we can use this

 k x  P  T   k   k x k   P  T  k x VT equation:
    Rd P0
ln
f P1 u ^ v ^
VT  i j
 1  
z z
  P  T  k x VT
Rd P0
ln
f P1 And Then the thermal wind equation in
vector form is

 1  
g
so,  P  T   k x VT f VT   T
Rd P0 T
ln
f P1

Breaking up into vector components:

Problems 2:
^ ^
Given the following Sounding data u878  11.47kts i  16.4kts j
determine temperature gradient
direction at 850 hpa (1476 m): ^ ^
u 844  19.8kts i  19.8kts j

 19.8  11.47kts ^  19.8  16.4kts ^  0.514m / s

V T   i j 
 1524  1219 m 1524  1219 m  1kts
^ ^
 
  0.014 i  0.0057 j s 1
 

T
T   f  VT   f  VT
g
^ ^ ^
   
   1  10 4 s 1 k    0.014 i  0.0057 j s 1
   

^ ^
 
T    5.7 10 7 s 2 i  1.4 10 6 s  2 j
 
We see a negative gradient in the east west
Answer: direction and a negative gradient in the
north south direction.
at 878 hpa (1219 m) winds are 20 kts at
325 degrees

Sandro Wellyanto Lubis, Thermal Wind 7

Bachelor Programme of Applied Meteorology
 Dynamic Meteorology, Department of Applied Meteorology
Bogor Agricultural University

About Writer
u (878hPa) 1219m
u (844hPa) 1524m

u g 844hpa 
North-south
u g 878hpa 
Cold

East-west T

Warm

Name : Sandro Wellyanto Lubis

Bibliography Date of Birth : Sabang, June 15 1988
Major : Apllied Meteorology
[Anonim]. 2009. Oceanography. http:// Minor : Marine Science
www .usna. edu. [Bogor, 2 Maret My Blog : www.sandrolubis.wordpress.com
2009].
Bachelor Programme of Apllied
Holton, James R. 2004. An Introduction to Meteorology, Department of Meteorology
Dynamic Meteorology 4th Edition. and Geophysic, Bogor Agricultural
Elsevier Inc University, Indonesia.

Riegel,C. A. 1992. Fundamentals of “Its simple writing, so i do need additional

Atmospheric Dynamic and information about this theme to make it
Thermodynamics. USA: World completly and perfect, my aim is just to
Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd. derive equations of thermal wind in various
type of coordinate system  ”
Vallis, Geoffrey K. 2005. Atmospheric and
Ocean Fluid Dynamic. USA:
Cambridge University Press.

Sandro Wellyanto Lubis, Thermal Wind 8

Bachelor Programme of Applied Meteorology