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, where and , representing the derivatives of wind component. Because these derivatives vary greatly with the rotation of the coordinate system, so do \ A and \ B.

Stretching direction

The deformation elements \ A and \ B (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****).