Lecture 8: Coriolis, Friction and Wind

Question 1

How does friction affect wind differently at earth’s surface and aloft in atmosphere ?

Answer 1

Friction slows surface winds and is absent aloft

Question 2

How does the Coriolis effect influence wind at Earth’s surface

Answer 2

At surface: friction is reduced, speed increases and coriolis is stronger

Question 3

How does the Coriolis effect influence wind aloft in atmosphere?

Answer 3

Wind increases and coriolis is strongest the higher you go

Question 4

How does atmospheric circulation differ between N and S hemispheres and between equatorial and more poleward latitudes?

Answer 4

Air turns right (clockwise) in the NH and left (counterclockwise) in the SH
Thermal H flows away from the poles at surface and wind aloft blows towards the poles, deflected in the opposite direction

Question 5

What are the wind patterns around high pressure systems at Earth’s surface and aloft in the atmosphere?

Answer 5

Wind flows clockwise around H

opposite in SH

surface air diverges from poles and moves equatorward

Question 6

What are the wind patterns around low pressure systems at Earth’s surface and aloft in atmopshere?

Answer 6

Wind flows counterclockwise around L

rising air diverges aloft moving poleward

Question 7

Coriolis effect

Answer 7

“apparent” deflection of wind due to earth’s rotation

Question 8

Geostrophic wind

Answer 8

wind direction and speed are determined by the balance of pressure-gradient force and coriolis effect