Divergence (meteorology)
When air masses sink towards the earth's surface and finally flow apart, one speaks of divergence . To compensate for this, air must flow in from higher layers, which in turn is replaced by air flowing together ( converging ) there . The air heats up as it sinks, which increases its water vapor capacity and consequently causes the cloud cover to dissolve . This process can be observed in the core of high pressure areas, which is why these also have a fair weather character.
The formula for the divergence is:
With
- the divergence operator
- the Nabla operator
- the 2D wind vector
- the zonal wind component and
- the meridional wind component .
Divergences and convergences also arise in the area of the extra-tropical west wind zone ( jet stream), when the jet stream forms Rossby waves , when flowing around obstacles (mountains) or as a result of speed differences due to different ground friction (e.g. over sea and land). You are responsible for creating dynamic pressure areas .