gradient wind A wind that represents the balance among all the forces acting upon moving air. It may be expressed by V in the equation: G = 2DωV sinφ ± DV²/r + F, where G is the pressure gradient, D the air's density, ω the angular velocity of the Earth's rotation about its axis, φ the latitude, r the radius of curvature of the air's path, F the friction, and V the air's velocity when the forces are in balance. The sign before the second term is + when the motion is around a cyclonic (low-pressure) centre, — when the motion is around an anticyclonic (high-pressure) centre. See also geostrophic wind.

gradient wind Wind that represents the balance among all the forces acting upon moving air. It may be expressed by V in the equation: G = 2DΩV sin Φ ± DV²/r + F, where G is the pressure gradient, D the air's density, Ω the angular velocity of the Earth's rotation about its axis, Φ the latitude, r the radius of curvature of the air's path, F the friction, and V the air's velocity when the forces are in balance. The sign before the second term is + when the motion is around a cyclonic (low-pressure) centre, − when the motion is around an anticyclonic (high-pressure) centre. See also GEOSTROPHIC WIND.