diff --git a/docs/userguide/gempak.rst b/docs/userguide/gempak.rst
index 438f50ce169..6e507b1d31e 100644
--- a/docs/userguide/gempak.rst
+++ b/docs/userguide/gempak.rst
@@ -493,12 +493,12 @@ blue is uncertain of parity, and white is unevaluated.
|
- | JCBN(S1, S2) |
- Jacobian determinant |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ JCBN(S1, S2) |
+ Jacobian determinant |
+ metpy.calc.jacobian |
+ Yes |
+ Yes |
+ Yes |
| KNTS(S) |
diff --git a/src/metpy/calc/kinematics.py b/src/metpy/calc/kinematics.py
index fb80b3b18ee..02288f080fe 100644
--- a/src/metpy/calc/kinematics.py
+++ b/src/metpy/calc/kinematics.py
@@ -356,6 +356,64 @@ def total_deformation(u, v, dx=None, dy=None, x_dim=-1, y_dim=-2, *,
return np.sqrt((dvdx + dudy)**2 + (dudx - dvdy)**2)
+@exporter.export
+@parse_grid_arguments
+@preprocess_and_wrap(wrap_like='u', broadcast=('u', 'v', 'parallel_scale', 'meridional_scale'))
+@check_units('[speed]', '[speed]', '[length]', '[length]')
+def jacobian(u, v, dx=None, dy=None, x_dim=-1, y_dim=-2, *,
+ parallel_scale=None, meridional_scale=None):
+ r"""Calculate the Jacobian determinant of scalar quantities u and v.
+
+ Parameters
+ ----------
+ u : (..., M, N) `xarray.DataArray` or `pint.Quantity`
+ first scalar quantity (often the x component of the wind)
+ v : (..., M, N) `xarray.DataArray` or `pint.Quantity`
+ second scalar quantity (often the y component of the wind)
+
+ Returns
+ -------
+ (..., M, N) `xarray.DataArray` or `pint.Quantity`
+ Jacobian Determinant
+
+ Other Parameters
+ ----------------
+ dx : `pint.Quantity`, optional
+ The grid spacing(s) in the x-direction. If an array, there should be one item less than
+ the size of `u` along the applicable axis. Optional if `xarray.DataArray` with
+ latitude/longitude coordinates used as input.
+ dy : `pint.Quantity`, optional
+ The grid spacing(s) in the y-direction. If an array, there should be one item less than
+ the size of `u` along the applicable axis. Optional if `xarray.DataArray` with
+ latitude/longitude coordinates used as input.
+ x_dim : int, optional
+ Axis number of x dimension. Defaults to -1 (implying [..., Y, X] order). Automatically
+ parsed from input if using `xarray.DataArray`.
+ y_dim : int, optional
+ Axis number of y dimension. Defaults to -2 (implying [..., Y, X] order). Automatically
+ parsed from input if using `xarray.DataArray`.
+ parallel_scale : `pint.Quantity`, optional
+ Parallel scale of map projection at data coordinate. Optional if `xarray.DataArray`
+ with latitude/longitude coordinates and MetPy CRS used as input. Also optional if
+ longitude, latitude, and crs are given. If otherwise omitted, calculation will be
+ carried out on a Cartesian, rather than geospatial, grid. Keyword-only argument.
+ meridional_scale : `pint.Quantity`, optional
+ Meridional scale of map projection at data coordinate. Optional if `xarray.DataArray`
+ with latitude/longitude coordinates and MetPy CRS used as input. Also optional if
+ longitude, latitude, and crs are given. If otherwise omitted, calculation will be
+ carried out on a Cartesian, rather than geospatial, grid. Keyword-only argument.
+
+ See Also
+ --------
+ gradient
+
+ """
+ (dudx, dudy), (dvdx, dvdy) = vector_derivative(
+ u, v, dx=dx, dy=dy, x_dim=x_dim, y_dim=y_dim, parallel_scale=parallel_scale,
+ meridional_scale=meridional_scale)
+ return dudx * dvdy - dudy * dvdx
+
+
@exporter.export
@parse_grid_arguments
@preprocess_and_wrap(wrap_like='scalar',