Computer Assignment #9.







1. For the most part, the initialized winds and the observed winds are the same. In most areas the wind barbs line up nicely, and the wind speeds are about the same. South of the height 10620 m, the initialized winds and observed winds are a little different, but not by much.

2. In the north part of the US and the eastern part of the US, there are no differences in the actual winds and the geostrophic winds. In Alabama, Georgia, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, California, Nevada, and Utah there are differences in these two winds. The greatest differences are in Northwestern Texas and Southeastern New Mexico.

3. There are not many places where the surface winds are geostrophic. North Dakota is the only place where the winds are very close to being geostrophic. Surface winds become cross isobaric because of friction at the surface. This slows down the velocity of the wind causing the coriolis force to be less, which causes the winds to cross from high pressure to low pressure across the isobars.