omega_to_w

Convert omega vertical velocity (Pa/s) to (m/s).

Available in version 6.2.0 and later.

Prototype

load "$NCARG_ROOT/lib/ncarg/nclscripts/csm/contributed.ncl"  ; This library is automatically loaded
                                                             ; from NCL V6.2.0 onward.
                                                             ; No need for user to explicitly load.

	function omega_to_w (
		omega  : numeric,  ; float, double, integer only
		p      : numeric,  
		t      : numeric   
	)

Arguments

A variable of any dimensionality containing omega (Pa/s) Array size and shape must match p and t.

A variable containing pressure values (Pa). Array size and shape must match omega and t.

A variable containing temperature (K). Array size and shape must match omega and p.

Return value

A double array is returned if omega is double, otherwise a float array of the same size and shape as omega is returned.

Description

Converts vertical velocity (Pa/s), commonly denoted as omega to vertical velocity (m/s), commonly denoted as w. The approximate relationship used is:

       rgas = 287.058            ; J/(kg-K) => m2/(s2 K)
       g    = 9.80665            ; m/s2
       rho  = p/(rgas*t)         ; density => kg/m3
       w    = -omega/(rho*g)     ; array operation

See Also

w_to_omega, wind_direction, wind_component

Examples

Example 1: If (a) omega[*], p[*] and t[*]; (b) omega[*][*][*], p[*][*][*] and t[*][*][*]; (c) omega[*][*][*][*], p[*][*][*][*] and t[*][*][*][*] and all have the desired units then

       wa = omega_to_w(omega, p, t)         ; wa[*] (m/s)
       wb = omega_to_w(omega, p, t)         ; wb[*][*][*] (m/s)
       wc = omega_to_w(omega, p, t)         ; wc[*][*][*][*] (m/s)

Example 2: Let omega(time,lev,lat,lon) and t(time,lev,lat,lon) and plevel(lev) have units hPa/day, degC and hPa, respectively.

                                         ; change units: hPa/day to Pa/s
       omega = omega*100./86400.         ; hPa=100Pa, day=86400s ; (hPa/day)(day/86400s)(100Pa/hPa)    
       omega@units = "Pa/s"

       t       = t + 273.15              ; degC -> degK
       t@units = "degK"
                                         ; make p[*] conform to omega[*][*][*][*]
       P       = conform(omega, p, 1)   ; P(:,:,:,:)
       P       = P*100                   ; hPa -> Pa
       P@units = "Pa"
       
       w       = omega_to_w(omega, P, t)      ; w[*][*][*][*] (m/s)

       delete(P)                          ; no longer needed