GEOL 1340 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Intertropical Convergence Zone, Weather Vane, Atmospheric Pressure
21 Sep 2016
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Molecules that constitute air create air pressure through motion, size, and number o o o. Anemometer measures wind speed in km per hour, meters per second, or knots. Drives air from areas of higher barometric pressure to areas of lower. Isobar: isoline on weather map to connect points of equal pressure. Wind blows across isobars from high to low pressure. Makes wind traveling in straight path appear to be deflected in relation o o o o o to earth"s rotating surface. Deflection regardless of direction object is moving and doesn"t change the speed. Deflection increases as speed of moving object increases. Creates drag as wind moves across surface but friction force decreases with height above surface. Geostrophic winds: don"t flow from high to low but around pressure areas remaining parallel to isobars. Friction reduces effect of coriolis force and causes winds to move across isobars at angle. Pressure centers of enclosed areas are pressure systems/cells o.
