Air Pressure and Winds

These flashcards cover key concepts related to air pressure and winds, including definitions and processes relating to atmospheric circulation.

Continental-Scale Winds

Horizontal and vertical movement of air across large areas.

Pressure Gradient Force

The force that drives air from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure.

Coriolis Effect

The apparent deflection of moving air or water caused by the rotation of the Earth.

Cyclone

A low-pressure system characterized by air converging counter-clockwise and rising vertically.

Anticyclone

A high-pressure system where air diverges clockwise and descends, generally associated with fair weather.

Convergence

The process where winds come together leading to rising air.

Orographic Lifting

The lifting of air over mountains causing cooling and condensation.

Frontal Wedging

When warm and cold air masses meet, causing the warm air to rise.

Convective Lifting

Lifting of air due to differential heating of the Earth's surface, causing varying temperatures.

Rain Shadow Effect

A region that receives significantly less precipitation due to being located on the leeward side of a mountain range.

Sea Breeze

A wind that blows from the sea to the land, caused by the differential heating of land and water.

Land Breeze

A wind that blows from the land to the sea, occurring at night when land cools faster than water.

Valley Breeze

A breeze that originates in the valley and flows upwards during the day.

Katabatic Wind

Cold, dense air flowing down a slope due to gravity.

Chinook Wind

A warm dry wind that descends the eastern slopes of the Rockies.