Abstract
THE atmospheric angular momentum generated at the earth's surface between latitudes ± ϕ must, over a long period, be balanced by an equivalent outflow of angular momentum across these parallels. It was argued by Jeffreys1 that the main agents of this efflux are rotations of cyclonic dimensions lying side by side, at least in the latitudes of the prevailing surface westerlies. Extended to all latitudes, this view encounters the difficulty that the maximal flux must occur across the belts of minimal disturbance around lat. 30°–35° N. and S.; nevertheless, it is widely held that this is effected by a marked horizontal asymmetry in the anticyclones comprising the high-pressure belt.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Jeffreys, H., Quart. J. Roy. Met. Soc., 52, 85 (1926).
Rossby, C. G., “Climate and Man”, U.S. Dept. Agric., 599 (1941).
Starr, V. P., J. Meteorology, 5, 39 (1948).
Jeffreys, H., Proc. Internat. Union Geod. and Geophys. (Lisbon), 219 (1933).
Namias, J., “Extended Forecasting by Mean Circulation Methods”, U.S. Weather Bureau (1947).
Priestley, C. H. B., Quart. J. Roy. Met. Soc., 75, 28 (1949).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
PRIESTLEY, C. Flow of Momentum and Mass across the High-Pressure Belt of the Earth's Atmosphere. Nature 165, 855–856 (1950). https://doi.org/10.1038/165855b0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/165855b0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
