ATOC 184 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Pressure-Gradient Force, Coriolis Force, Wind Speed
11 Apr 2018
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Difference in temp in the summer: 30 degrees celsius. Where is geostrophic balance applicable: geostrophic balance is a good approximation above 900hpa or approximately 1. 5km above the ground where friction is not important, when friction is involved, the wind speed slows down. If the wind slows down, the magnitude of the coriolis force decreases as well => no longer in balance. Wind deflects to low pressure because it"s deflecting in the direction of the pressure gradient force because we reduced the magnitude of the opposing arrow. Now, the coriolis force and friction is balancing the pressure gradient force. As the wind slows down, the pressure gradient force becomes lower than the. Coriolis force and pgf wins tug of war => wind deflects in direction of pgf. Air rises over center of low pressure: air sinks over to top of high pressure systems. Diverging at the surface and being replaced by air molecules from above.
