Winds

What are the three ingredients needed for a dust storm?

Fine-grained soils, lack of vegetation or rocks, and high winds.

What does the pressure gradient force do?

It compels air to move from high pressure to low pressure.

What is atmospheric pressure?

The weight of all the air above you, exerted by the atmosphere held down by gravity.

What characterizes low pressure in the atmosphere?

Warm air rises, causing lower air pressure at the surface.

What is the Coriolis effect?

The deflection of moving air due to the rotation of the Earth.

How do land and sea breezes work during daytime?

Air over land heats up, creating low pressure, while the sea remains cool, generating high pressure.

What happens to air pressure as elevation increases?

Air pressure decreases exponentially.

What are isobars?

Lines connecting points with the same pressure at the surface.

What effects does friction have on wind?

It reduces wind speed and changes the direction of the geostrophic wind.

What is a geostrophic wind?

A wind that flows parallel to the isobars, influenced by the pressure gradient force and the Coriolis effect.