ENVIRSC 1A03 Chapter 12: UNIT 12 WINDS AND PRESSURE
25 Sep 2016
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Winds are made of air, moving horizontally relative to earth"s surface. They are caused by the unequal heating of earth"s atmosphere. The vertical movement of air is called the vertical winds, downdrafts, or updrafts. The unequal heating 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 local and global winds. In the atmosphere, winds blow in an attempt to equalize imbalances in air pressure. The pressure gradient force results from differences in pressure between regions. Pressure usually varies from 980 hpa 1030 hpa. Air moves from areas of higher pressure to areas of lower pressure. Air moves from areas of higher temperature to areas of lower temperature. A constant height map plots variations in pressure, on a constant elevation. On the maps, isobars connect points of equal pressure (ex.
