Geostrophic wind
= Geostrophic wind
{title2=$\mathbf u_g=(\rho f)^{-1}\widehat{\mathbf z}\times\nabla_h p$}
The <geostrophic wind> is the horizontal flow for which the <pressure gradient force> balances the <Coriolis force>. It runs along <atmospheric isobars> and has speed proportional to their <pressure gradient>, at fixed <density> and nonzero <Coriolis parameter>. Curvature, <friction> and small spatial scales can invalidate that approximation.