ENVIRSC 1C03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Pressure-Gradient Force, Heightmap, Wind Direction
3 Sep 2018
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Document Summary
Wind: is air that is moving horizontally relative to the earth"s surface. Vertical winds: the vertical movement of air; aka downdrafts or updrafts. Winds are caused by the unequal heating of earth"s atmosphere which creates a pressure gradient. The heated air rises and the surrounding air is sucked in under the rising air. This process is the same for both local and global winds. Wind results from horizontal differences in pressure in the atmosphere and winds blow in an attempt to equalize the imbalances in this air pressure. The pressure gradient force results from differences in pressure between regions. The average surface pressure is 1013. 2 hpa (varies from 980 hpa to 1030 hpa) Air moves from areas of higher pressure to areas of lower pressure and from areas of higher temperature to areas of lower temperatures. On a constant height map, isobars bend and turnaround areas of high and low pressure.
