Abstract :
The linear, asymptoticwork of Belcher andWood (Belcher, S. E. andWood, N., 1996. Q. J. R. Meteorol.
Soc. 122, 863–902), for the surface pressure drag over orography of small amplitude, is revised and
expanded. A new equation is obtained that incorporates the pressure drag due to gravity waves (wave
drag) and pressure drag due to turbulence (form drag) and shows how these mechanisms operate
together. In its general form, the equation is in the Fourier space and can be solved numerically for any
orography. An analytical example is given for sinusoidal orography.