Deformation (meteorology)

Deformation is the rate of change of shape of fluid bodies. Meteorologically, this quantity is very important in the formation of atmospheric fronts, in the explanation of cloud shapes, and in the diffusion of materials and properties.
Equations.
The deformation of horizontal wind is defined as formula_1, where formula_2 and formula_3, representing the derivatives of wind component. Because these derivatives vary greatly with the rotation of the coordinate system, so do formula_4 and formula_5.
Stretching direction.
The deformation elements formula_4 and formula_5 (above) can be used to find the "direction of the dilatation axis", the line along which the material elements stretch (also known as the "stretching direction"). Several flow patterns are characteristic of large deformation: confluence, diffluence, and shear flow. ', also known as "stretching", is the elongating of a fluid body along the flow (streamline convergence). ', also known as "shearing", is the elongating of a fluid body normal to the flow (streamline divergence).