Winds & atmospheric pressure 2; 4-7
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Dec 6, 2023
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Winds & atmospheric pressure #2, 4-7
4. If divergence in the jet stream above a surface low pressure center exceeds convergence at the
surface, will surface winds likely get stronger or weaker? Explain.
If a divergence in the jet stream above a surface low pressure center increases convergence at the
surface, surface winds will likely become weaker. This is due to surface pressure, which means that when
surface pressure decreases, surface winds will likely become weaker, and when surface pressure
increases, surface winds will likely become stronger.
5. You and a friend are watching TV on a rainy day, when the weather reporter says, “The barometric
pressure is 28.8 inches and rising.” Hearing this, you say, “It looks like fair weather is on its way.” Your
friend responds with the following questions: “I thought air pressure had something to do with the
weight of air. How does inches relate to weight? And why do you think the weather is going to improve?”
How would you respond to your friend’s queries?
Atmospheric pressure is 28.8 inches of mercury. Good weather indicates rising air pressure. Atmospheric
air always flows from higher to lower pressure. Air moves clouds. Thus, air flows from high to low
pressure. No rain or storms means ideal weather.
6. If you live in the Northern Hemisphere and are directly west of the center of a cyclone, what is the
probable wind direction at your location? What if you were west of an anticyclone?
Winds west of a cyclone in the Northern Hemisphere would be northwest, while winds west of an
anticyclone would be southeast.
7. The accompanying map is a simplified surface weather map for April 2, 2011, on which three pressure
cells are numbered.
a. Identify which of the pressure cells are anticyclones (highs) and which are cyclones (lows).
Pressure cell 2 indicates the anticyclone or high-pressure zone. Storms and low-pressure zones are 1 and
3.
b. Which pressure cell has the steepest pressure gradient and therefore the strongest winds?
Pressure point 3 has the steepest pressure disparity and strongest winds, due to close isobar lines.
c. Refer to Figure 18.2 to determine whether pressure cell 3 should be considered strong or weak.
Pressure center 3 is a strong low-pressure storm zone. The greatest pressure drop and fastest winds
result.
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