lecture 8- wind and atmospheric pressures

wind

the horizontal movement of air across the earth's surface

atmospheric pressure

the weight of atmosphere above the location

what U.S. locations are most suitable for wind development?

North Dakota, Texas, Kansas, South Dakota, Nebraska

-fierce winds channeled from the Rocky Mountains through the Great Plains.

location low pressure systems

locations of extreme pressure records

location of high pressure systems

factors that influence the flow of wind

gravitational force, pressure gradient force, Coriolis effect, friction

pressure gradient force

the force that results when there is a difference in pressure across a surface- Air moves from high pressures to low pressures, setting up a gradient

coriolis effect

the pattern of deflection taken by objects not firmly connected to the ground as they travel long distances

friction

Wind flowing across different surfaces creates different resistances to movement from frictional drag

gravitational force

is what holds the atmosphere to the earth