Geology 1350 Lecture 12 Outline of Last Lecture I. Air Pressure and WindsOutline of Current Lecture I. ForcesII. Air Pressure and WindsCurrent LectureLow pressure can be around 900mb, mean level is at 1000mbAmbient pressure changes with altitude, 5.5 km is at half General definition of a force= acceleration (change in speed)*mass=acceleration*density*volume1. Pressure gradient force- force that causes wind to blow, stronger wind comes with smaller isobars that create greater pressure2. Apparent Coriolis force- example is merry-go-round and you throw a ball, ball goes straight and other guy can’t catch because he is gone, becomes stronger when you go north or south, weak at the equator, changes wind direction not speed3. Geostrophic wind- pressure gradient and Coriolis together, pgf and cf get closer faster winds, pgf and cf farther slower winds4. Ballots law- when going north, wind around the right clockwise is high and counterclockwise left is low5. Centripetal force- experience everyday unless you are in class, experience this in car when doing a curve, the more force the bigger the car, this depends on wind mass and the radius of the curve, when you turn right your body turns left, always directed towards the center of the cf and pgfMeridional-north and south windsZonal- east and west windsFriction depends on the velocity and is opposite of the wind, depends on the roughness of the earths surface (ice, street), lowest roughness at the pacific water These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.Vertical air motion-sinking air parcels and air comes together, air going into the
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