EAS100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Pressure Gradient, Coriolis Force, Polar Front

• School: University of Alberta
• Department: Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
• Course: EAS100
• Professor: Jeffrey Kavanaugh

Document Summary

Wind direction: parallel to isobars (lines of equal pressure) Newtons laws: a body at rest stays at rest while a body in motion stays in motion, line, until acted upon travelling at a constant speed and in a straight by a net outside force. Geostropic: pressure gradient force + coriolis force = 0. F_c points 90 deg to right of motion (in north hemisphere) Occurs when at high enough altitude that surface friction. Pressure gradient force + coriolis force + ground friction is negligible force = 0. Located above polar front, steep pressure gradients form. Speeds up to 460 km/h have been measured. Generally 3-7 around the globe at any given time. Weather conditions are controlled by air masses up to 2000km wide. Continental polar - cold dry air masses formed over continent. Maritime polar - cool moist air masses formed over ocean. Continental tropical - hot moist air masses formed over continent.