INTEGRAL CHARACTERISTICS OF GLOBAL WIND FIELD. 1. WESTERLY AND EASTERLY CIRCULATIONS, ANNUAL CYCLE, AND STRUCTURE

M. A. Petrosyants, D. Yu. Gushchina, and E. V. Sokolikhina

A kinematic characteristic of the atmosphere, circulation of the zonal component of monthly mean wind velocity along the latitude circles in the Northern and Southern hemispheres, is used to obtain quantitative characteristics of the global wind field. The analysis shows an asymmetry of circulation between the hemispheres, its annual cycle, variations of the easterly current zone width in the tropics with time and height. Interannual variability of westerlies in the midlatitudes and of easterlies in the tropics, their structure in the Northern and Southern hemispheres, and significant time shifts of the circulation minima and maxima with respect to midseason months (winter and summer) are described.