Met - Global Winds Flashcards
When thinking about the coriolis effect, what is the best way to visualise the earths rotation …..
either from above looking down onto the north pole or from below looking up at the south pole
A backing wind is changing direction which way …..
anti-clockwise
Coriolis Effect:
Rotation = Clockwise
Deflection = …..
Coriolis Effect:
Rotation = Clockwise
Deflection = Left
Coriolis Effect:
Rotation = Anti-clockwise
Deflection = …..
Coriolis Effect:
Rotation = Anti-clockwise
Deflection = Right
A gust is defined as ……
lesser duration and magnitude than a squall
Which way will a geostrophic wind be blowing …..
straight along the isobars
The coriolis eddect explaions the tendency of wind to …..
turn left in the southern hemisphere
What happens when the pressure gradient is strong enough to over come the coriolis effect …..
the air swings to the right and a low is formed
isobars that are close together indicate 2 things ……
- Steep pressure gradient
- Strong winds
When the coriolis force is exactly balance by the pressure gradient, the resulting wind is called …..
geostrophic wind
Anti-cyclonic flows which way …..
It flows about a high in either hemisphere
Left in the southern hemisphere
Right in the northern hemisphere
The pressure gradient changes over a given ….. ……
horizontal distance
Coriolis Effect:
Rotation = …..
Deflection = Left
Coriolis Effect:
Rotation = Clockwise
Deflection = Left
Buys Ballots Law …..
stand with your back to the wind in the southern hemisphere and the lowest pressure will be on your right hand side
The pressure gradient force acts …..
at right angles to the isobars towards the lower pressure
If the isobars are widely spread the wind will be …..
weak
Which way does the air flow out of a high and why …..
out and to the left - this is because of the coriolis effect
Which way will a gradient wind blow ……
it will follow the isobars
Backing wind = clockwise/anti-clockwise
anti-clockwise
Which way does the earth rotate when looking at it from below at the south pole …..
clockwise
Define Backing ……
You’ll need to turn to the left to face the wind i.e. the wind is blowing in your face
Veering wind = clockwise/anti-clockwise
Clockwise
Geostrophic flow is when there is ……
an exact balance between forces and no tendancy to swing left or right
Cyclonic flow in the northern hemisphere flows …..
anti-clockwise
In relation to the wind: Surface friction can be ignored above …… ft
3000ft
If you move at right angles to the isobars, the rate of pressure change is …..
at its maximum
Define Veering …..
You’ll need to turn to the right to face the wind i.e. the wind is blowing in your face
Near the equator the coriolis effect is …..
zero
Compared to the gradient wind flow, the surface wind over land will …..
veered by 300 and slowed by 2/3
What does surface friction do to the wind ……
slows it down
Which way will the wind blow in relation to a high at the equator ……
directly out of a high
Pressure Gradient:
The greater the rate of pressure change the ….. the gradient and the ….. the air moves
steeper, faster
over the land surface friction degrades the wind by ……
2/3 in speed and veers by 300
Coriolis Effect:
Rotation = …..
Deflection = Right
Coriolis Effect:
Rotation = Anti-clockwise
Deflection = Right
Pressure gradient determins ….. ……
wind speed
The rate at which pressure changes over a horizontal distance is known as the ….. …..
pressure gradient
A squall is defined as ……
16kt - 22kt increase in wind speed
What is the dominate force of wind at the equator …..
pressure gradient
over the sea surface friction degrades the gradient wind by ……
strength by 1/3 and veering by 100
An aircraft flying from a high to low will experience …..
left drift
Cyclonic flow in the southern hemispher rotates …..
clockwise
Compared to the gradient wind, the surface wind direction in the southern hemisphere can be found to be …..
further to the right in both highs and lows
The strength of the pressure gradient force depends most on the …..
spacing of the isobars
The term geostrophic wind refers to the steady flow of wind …..
along straight isobars
Surface wind, when compared to gradient wind flow is found to be …..
veered to the right and slower
Which way will the wind blow in relation to a low at the equator …..
directly into the low
