300 mb Upper Air Divergence Question

[Tom Mull]

On the 300 mb upper air maps, it shows the divergence in addition to the upper air winds. It looks like the divergence has numbers associated with the graphics. It looks like the numbers range from 0 to 10. What are the numbers indicating and what are the units? Thanks.

 

[Warren Faidley]

Can you post a picture or link and maybe someone can help you. Not sure what graphic you are using.

 

[Tom Mull]

Can you post a picture or link and maybe someone can help you. Not sure what graphic you are using.

You can view the map by going to the SPC website, then to upper air then click on 300 mb. Here is a link to the 300 mb map. You can see the divergence which is indicated by the magenta color.

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/mesoanalysis/new/viewsector.php?sector=19&parm=pmsl#

 

[GPhillips]

The units are in seconds to the -1. I'm not sure of the contour labels, but quite possibly the numerical value of the label times 10 to the -5. Similar images here: http://climate.cod.edu/flanis/analysis/rapmeso/index.php?type=US-300div-1#

 

[Jeff Duda]

Divergence is in units of s^-1. Synoptic scale orders of magnitude for divergence are typically 10^-5, so you're probably looking at divergence * 10^5 s^-1.