A diagnosis of adiabatic production and destruction of kinetic energy by the meridional and zonal motions of the atmosphere

Adiabatic production and destruction of kinetic energy by the meridional and zonal motions of the atmosphere at different latitudes from 20° to 70°N were investigated with twice‐daily observed wind and geopotential data over North America during a one‐year period. At the lower latitudes kinetic energy is produced by the meridional motion and destroyed by the zonal motion; while in the middle and higher latitudes, functions of meridional and zonal winds are reversed. Despite the general smallness of the meridional wind, the magnitude of – v δϕ/δ y is comparable to that of – u δϕ/δ x . As the result of the characteristic latitudinal distribution of – u δϕ/δ x and – v δϕ/δ y , the resultant kinetic energy generation – V. ∇δ is maximum at the subtropical latitudes and minimum at the middle latitudes.