EESA09H3 Lecture : Lecture2_notes.pdf
Document Summary
Lecture 2 notes: outline of this lecture, part 1: wind primer, part 2: new air mass classification system applied to toronto, part 1. Wind cannot be seen directly but can be inferred by its effects such as the movement of objects (trees, grass) and causing objects to become airborne (dust). Wind can be felt and it can be heard. Wind results from the differences in air pressure, either vertical or horizontal. In the absence of other forces air tends to move from high pressure to low pressure. The force that causes this is called the pressure gradient force. Because the earth rotates, another force does act on the wind. It is called a fictitious force because it directly results from this rotation of the earth. In the northern hemisphere it acts to deflect the wind to the right and in the southern hemisphere it acts to deflect the wind to the left.