GEOPOTENTIAL HEIGHT VS. GEOMETRIC HEIGHT, 
LATITUDE DEPENDANCE OF CORIOLIS PARAMETER AND GRAVITY

At any latitude , the Coriolis parameter f and the acceleration due to gravity g are :

where is the earth's rotation rate (= )

The relationship between geopotential height (H) and geometric height (Z)  is that

where g_o is the standard acceleration due to gravity (=9.80665 m s^-2), and is the geopotential energy.

The conversion between geometric height (Z) and geopotential height (H) is :

where G is the gravity ratio

and R_e is the radius of the earth at latitude ,

where R_max is the earth's equatorial radius (= 6378.137 kilometers) and R_min is the earth's polar radius ( = 6356.752 kilometers). 

Only use SI / metric units in all calculations.  Try the Unit Conversion Calculators at http://hurri.kean.edu/~yoh/calculations/units

Input latitude, and either the geometric height or the geopotential height (remember to hit the ENTER Key) :

Federal Meteorological Handbook No. 3 : Rawinsonde and Pibal Observatoins. OFCM, May 1997.
http://www.ofcm.gov/fmh3/text/default.htm

Report any errors in the calculators or send any suggestions to yoh@hurri.kean.edu 

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