authority: gcos
slug: upper-air-wind-speed-and-direction
name: Upper-air Wind Speed and Direction
domain: atmosphere
subdomain: upper-air
authority_id: gcos:upper-air-wind-speed-and-direction
external_ids:
  nvs_uri: null
  cf_standard_name: wind_speed
  iadopt_concepts:
    property: velocity
    entity: wind
canonical_units: m s-1
gcos_requirement_tier:
  threshold: null
  breakthrough: null
  goal: null
description: |
  Vertical profile of horizontal wind speed and direction through the
  troposphere and stratosphere, from radiosondes, aircraft, and Doppler
  wind lidar. Essential for transport, jet-stream and circulation analysis.
theme: weather
demos: []
status: documented
sources:
  - https://gcos.wmo.int/site/global-climate-observing-system-gcos/essential-climate-variables/upper-air-wind-speed-and-direction