Atmospheric Pressure and Wind - University of Minnesota Duluth大气压力和风力-明尼苏达大学德卢斯.ppt

Atmospheric Pressure and Wind Atmospheric pressure: force exerted by a column of air per unit area Normal atmospheric pressure at sea level = 1013 millibars Air pressure patterns controlled by: 1. Temperature changes 2. Rotation of earth 1.Temperature changes: When air is heated: air expands and PRESSURE DROPS When air is cooled: air compresses and PRESSURE INCREASES Result: WARM surfaces develop thermal LOWS COLD surfaces develop thermal HIGHS 2. Rotation of earth: Earth’s rotation causes air to accumulate in certain latitudes and to be deflected away from certain latitudes accumulation : HIGH pressure deflection: LOW pressure Highs and Lows in cross-section: HIGHS: clear skies rising barometer means good weather LOWS: cloudy skies falling barometer means bad weather Global Patterns of High and Low Pressure Equatorial Low 5oN - 5oS Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) thermal Low high sun angles, long days, available energy ascending air heavy precipitation cloud cover Subtropical Highs 25o - 40o N S rotation-induced Highs air deflected to subtropics descending air clear skies hot dry air great deserts here Subpolar Lows 55o - 70o N S rotation-induced Lows warm air from low latitudes is lifted as it meets cold polar air ascending air storm centers here Polar Highs 90o N S thermal Highs cold polar temps at high latitudes descending air Note: all pressure belts shift seasonally What causes wind? Wind is air moving from High to Low pressure. Wind is named after direction it comes FROM. (a “west wind” comes out of the west; flows eastward) Two components of wind 1.Speed 2. Direction 1.Wind Speed is determined by: a. Steepness of pressure gradient Steep gradient: closely spaced isobars Gradual gradient: widely spaced isobars b. Friction Friction from surface lowers wind speed 2. Wind Direction is determined by: a. Direction of pressure gradient b. Coriolis force c. Friction a. Direction of pressure gradient from High to Low m