Geopotential Surface

From ExoDictionary
Revision as of 16:00, 7 April 2007 by Autostub3 (Talk)

(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to: navigation, search
This definition page has been automatically generated.
You can help ExoDictionary by expanding, updating, or correcting it.


This autostub has not yet had its initial copyediting proof and may contain significant formatting and even factual errors. You can improve Exodictionary by cleaning up the page markup and verifying that the definition is correct and then removing this tag.


This autostub has not yet had its initial categorization proof and may be categorized incorrectly. You can improve Exodictionary by removing inappropriate categories and then removing this tag.


Geopotential Surface

</dt>
A surface of constant geopotential, i.e., a surface along which a particle of matter could move without undergoing any changes in its potential energy. Also called equigeopotential surface, level surface. </dd>
Geopotential surfaces almost coincide with surfaces of constant geometric height. Because of the poleward increase of the acceleration of gravity along a constant geometric-height surface, a given geopotential surface has a small geometric-height over the poles than over the equator. See potential, geopotential height, dynamic height. </dd>

References

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