Deformation (meteorology)

The deformation of horizontal wind is defined as $\backslash operatorname\{def\}\; \backslash mathbf\{V\}\; =\; \backslash sqrt\{A^2\; +\; B^2\}$, where $\backslash \; A\; =\; \backslash frac\{\backslash partial\; v\}\{\backslash partial\; x\}\; +\; \backslash frac\{\backslash partial\; u\}\{\backslash partial\; y\}$ and $\backslash \; B\; =\; \backslash frac\{\backslash partial\; u\}\{\backslash partial\; x\}\; -\; \backslash frac\{\backslash partial\; v\}\{\backslash partial\; y\}$, representing the derivatives of wind component. Because these derivatives vary greatly with the rotation of the coordinate system, so do $\backslash \; A$ and $\backslash \; B$.

The deformation elements $\backslash \; A$ and $\backslash \; B$ (above) can be used to find the direction of the dilatation axis, the line along which the material elements stretch (also known as the stretching direction). Several flow patterns are characteristic of large deformation: confluence, diffluence, and shear flow. {{visible anchor|Confluence}}, also known as stretching, is the elongating of a fluid body along the flow (streamline convergence). {{visible anchor|Diffluence}}, also known as shearing, is the elongating of a fluid body normal to the flow (streamline divergence).

File:Twilight Cloud Stripes.jpg confluence]]

• Wind shear
• Convergence zone
• Divergence

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Category:Vector calculus

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