ENVIRSC 1C03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Pressure Gradient, Pressure-Gradient Force, Cool Air
3 Sep 2018
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Document Summary
For winds to develop we need to have a pressure gradient. Winds are the way to which water vapour in the atmosphere is going to be carried from areas where there is a lot of heat to areas where there is less heat available. Caused by unequal heating of earth"s atmosphere: pressure on maps. Constant height plot variations in air pressure on a constant elevation. Mostly represent atmospheric pressure relative to sea level. On maps, isobars connect points of equal pressure. Isobars are drawn around the cyclones; connecting points having the same atmospheric pressure at a given time or on average over a given period. Winds are the arrows going across the isobars (move in towards the cyclones and away in the anticyclones) Makes sense that the altitudes are dropping because going from high to low latitudes, air is becoming increasingly more dense. Pressure is the greatest at the centre and decreases as it radiates outwards.
