Zonal wind

From Glossary of Meteorology



zonal wind

  1. The wind, or wind component, along the local parallel of latitude, as distinguished from the meridional wind.

    In a horizontal coordinate system fixed locally with the x axis directed eastward and the y axis directed northward, the zonal wind is positive if it blows from the west and negative if from the east.


  2. Same as westerlies.


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