Air Pressure And Winds Flashcards
Geostrophic winds
Wind that flows in a straight path, parallel to the isobars at a constant speed
Cyclonic flow
Area of low pressure around which the wind blows counterclockwise
What is cold air associated with?
Low atmospheric pressure
What is warm air associated with?
High atmospheric pressure
Pressure gradient=
Difference in pressure/distance
Ridge
An elongated area of high atmospheric pressure
Surface map
A map that shows the distribution of sea level pressure with isobars and weather phenomena
Air pressure
The mass of air above a given level
North to south wind flow
Meridional
As height increases, atmospheric pressure ______
Decreases
Anticyclonic flow
Clockwise flow of air around a high
What three things do widely spaced ice bars indicate?
Gentle pressure gradients, weak forces, light winds
Anti-cyclone
Area of high pressure around which the wind blows clockwise
Pressure gradient force
The force due to differences in pressure within the atmosphere that causes air to move and hence the wind blow
Prevailing wind
Name given to the wind direction most often observed during a given time period
What does the Coriolis effect due to the wind?
It causes the wind to deflect to the right of its intended path in the northern hemisphere
What 3 things do closely spaced isobars indicate?
Strong forces, steep pressure gradients, Highwinds
West to east wind flow
Zonal
Coriolis force
Force that is due to the rotation of the earth
Mid latitude cyclonic storms
A cyclonic storm that most often forms along a front in middle and high latitudes
The stronger the wind the _______ deflection
Greater
Troughs
An elongated area of low atmospheric pressure
