Zonal and meridional winds over Hyderabad

Abstract

The wind data, collected from stratospheric balloon flights over Hyderabad, (17.2° N, 78.2°E) for the past two decades (January 1977 to April 1994) have been consolidated. The results in the form of monthly mean values provide reliable reference wind profiles for the tropospheric and stratospheric heights up to 36 km. Wind shears between two adjacent-kilometer levels have been calculated and presented in graphical forms. A long term oscillation of about 5-year periodicity has been noticed in zonal wind. Wind values do not show significant correlation with solar activity. These reference wind and shear profiles may form the basis of further investigations in the dynamics of the lower atmosphere and would also prove to be helpful in better planning of the balloon launch experiments.