Geopotential Height

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Geopotential Height

</dt>
The height of a given point in the atmosphere in units proportional to the potential energy of unit mass ( geopotential) at this height, relative to sea level. </dd>
The relation, in the cgs system, between the geopotential height H and

the geometric height Z is Missing Image:img src="SP7-g_files/geopoh.gif" alt="geopotential height equation" where g is the acceleration of gravity, so that

the two heights are numerically interchangeable for most meteorological purposes. Also, 1 geopotential meter is equal to 0.98 dynamic meter. See dynamic height. At the present time, the geopotential height unit is used for all aerological reports, by convention of the World Meteorological Organization. </dd>

References

This article is based on NASA's Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use