Coordinate system

From Glossary of Meteorology
(Redirected from Reference frame)



coordinate system

(Also called reference frame.) Any scheme for the unique identification of each point of a given continuum.

These may be points in space (Eulerian coordinates) or parcels of a moving fluid (Lagrangian coordinates). Newton's laws of motion do take different forms in different systems (
see inertial coordinate system, relative coordinate system). The geometry of the system is a matter of convenience determined by the boundaries of the continuum or by other considerations (
see Cartesian coordinates, curvilinear coordinates).


Copyright 2024 American Meteorological Society (AMS). For permission to reuse any portion of this work, please contact permissions@ametsoc.org. Any use of material in this work that is determined to be “fair use” under Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act (17 U.S. Code § 107) or that satisfies the conditions specified in Section 108 of the U.S.Copyright Act (17 USC § 108) does not require AMS’s permission. Republication, systematic reproduction, posting in electronic form, such as on a website or in a searchable database, or other uses of this material, except as exempted by the above statement, require written permission or a license from AMS. Additional details are provided in the AMS Copyright Policy statement.