Pressure Gradient Force – Factors Affecting Wind Movement

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The following are the subtopics of Pressure Gradient Force – Factors Affecting Wind Movement:

  • Pressure gradient force
  • Coriolis force
  • Friction
  • Frictional drag
  • Turbulence
  • Wind shear
  • Updrafts and downdrafts
  • Convection
  • Radiation
  • EvaporationEvaporation
  • Condensation
  • PrecipitationPrecipitation
  • Orographic lift
  • Land-sea breezes
  • Mountain-valley breezes
  • ChinookChinook winds
  • Santa Ana winds
  • FoehnFoehn winds
    The pressure gradient force is the force that causes air to move from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. The greater the difference in pressure between two areas, the stronger the pressure gradient force.

The Coriolis force is an apparent force that deflects moving objects to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. The Coriolis force is caused by the Earth’s rotation.

Friction is a force that opposes the motion of one object against another. Frictional drag is the force that opposes the motion of air over the surface of the Earth.

Turbulence is a chaotic and unpredictable motion of air. Turbulence can be caused by changes in pressure, temperature, or wind speed.

Wind shear is a sudden change in wind speed or direction. Wind shear can be dangerous to aircraft, as it can cause them to lose control.

Updrafts are vertical currents of air that carry air upwards. Downdrafts are vertical currents of air that carry air downwards.

Convection is the transfer of heat by the movement of fluids. Convection currents are caused by the difference in density between hot and cold air.

Radiation is the transfer of heat by electromagnetic waves. Radiation is the primary way that the Earth’s surface loses heat to space.

Evaporation is the process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas. Evaporation is a cooling process, as it requires energy to break the BondsBonds between water molecules.

Condensation is the process by which water vapor in the air changes into liquid water. Condensation occurs when the water vapor cools and the air can no longer hold as much water vapor.

Precipitation is any form of water that falls from the sky to the Earth’s surface. Precipitation can be in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

Orographic lift is the lifting of air over a mountain range. As air rises, it cools and condenses, forming clouds and precipitation.

Land-sea breezes are breezes that blow from the land to the sea during the day and from the sea to the land at night. Land-sea breezes are caused by the difference in temperature between the land and the sea.

Mountain-valley breezes are breezes that blow from the mountains to the valleys during the day and from the valleys to the mountains at night. Mountain-valley breezes are caused by the difference in temperature between the mountains and the valleys.

Chinook winds are warm, dry winds that blow down the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Chinook winds are caused by the subsidence of air as it moves down the slopes of the mountains.

Santa Ana winds are hot, dry winds that blow down the slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. Santa Ana winds are caused by the subsidence of air as it moves down the slopes of the mountains.

Foehn winds are warm, dry winds that blow down the slopes of mountains in the Alps, Pyrenees, and other mountain ranges. Foehn winds are caused by the subsidence of air as it moves down the slopes of the mountains.
Pressure gradient force

The pressure gradient force is the force that causes air to move from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. The greater the difference in pressure between two areas, the stronger the pressure gradient force.

Coriolis force

The Coriolis force is an apparent force that deflects moving objects to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. The Coriolis force is caused by the Earth’s rotation.

Friction

Friction is a force that opposes the relative motion of two objects in contact. Friction is caused by the roughness of the surfaces of the objects in contact.

Frictional drag

Frictional drag is a type of friction that acts on objects moving through a fluid. Frictional drag is caused by the interaction of the object’s surface with the fluid molecules.

Turbulence

Turbulence is a chaotic and unpredictable motion of air. Turbulence is caused by the interaction of different air masses with different temperatures and densities.

Wind shear

Wind shear is a change in wind speed or direction over a short distance. Wind shear can be caused by changes in terrain, such as mountains or valleys, or by changes in weather conditions, such as thunderstorms.

Updrafts and downdrafts

Updrafts are vertical currents of air that carry air upwards. Downdrafts are vertical currents of air that carry air downwards. Updrafts and downdrafts are caused by the heating and cooling of air.

Convection

Convection is the transfer of heat by the movement of fluids. Convection is caused by the difference in density between hot and cold fluids. Hot fluids are less dense than cold fluids, so they rise. Cold fluids are more dense than hot fluids, so they sink.

Radiation

Radiation is the transfer of heat by electromagnetic waves. Radiation is caused by the vibration of atoms and molecules.

Evaporation

Evaporation is the process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas. Evaporation is caused by the heat energy from the sun.

Condensation

Condensation is the process by which water vapor in the air changes into liquid water. Condensation is caused by the cooling of air.

Precipitation

Precipitation is water that falls from the sky. Precipitation can be in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail. Precipitation is caused by the condensation of water vapor in the air.

Orographic lift

Orographic lift is the lifting of air as it flows over a mountain range. Orographic lift can cause clouds and precipitation to form.

Land-sea breezes

Land-sea breezes are winds that blow from the land to the sea during the day and from the sea to the land at night. Land-sea breezes are caused by the difference in temperature between the land and the sea.

Mountain-valley breezes

Mountain-valley breezes are winds that blow from the mountains to the valleys during the day and from the valleys to the mountains at night. Mountain-valley breezes are caused by the difference in temperature between the mountains and the valleys.

Chinook winds

Chinook winds are warm, dry winds that blow down the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Chinook winds are caused by the subsidence of air in the lee of the mountains.

Santa Ana winds

Santa Ana winds are hot, dry winds that blow from the east or northeast in Southern California. Santa Ana winds are caused by the downslope flow of air from the Great Basin.

Foehn winds

Foehn winds are warm, dry winds that blow down the leeward side of mountains. Foehn winds are caused by the subsidence of air in the lee of the mountains.
1. The force that causes air to move from high pressure to low pressure is called the:
(A) pressure gradient force
(B) Coriolis force
(CC) friction
(D) turbulence

  1. The force that deflects moving objects to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere is called the:
    (A) pressure gradient force
    (B) Coriolis force
    (C) friction
    (D) turbulence

  2. The force that opposes the motion of air is called:
    (A) pressure gradient force
    (B) Coriolis force
    (C) friction
    (D) turbulence

  3. The irregular, unpredictable motion of air is called:
    (A) pressure gradient force
    (B) Coriolis force
    (C) friction
    (D) turbulence

  4. The sudden change in wind speed and direction is called:
    (A) pressure gradient force
    (B) Coriolis force
    (C) friction
    (D) wind shear

  5. An upward movement of air is called an:
    (A) updraft
    (B) downdraft
    (C) convection
    (D) radiation

  6. A downward movement of air is called a:
    (A) updraft
    (B) downdraft
    (C) convection
    (D) radiation

  7. The transfer of heat by the movement of fluids is called:
    (A) convection
    (B) radiation
    (C) evaporation
    (D) condensation

  8. The process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas is called:
    (A) convection
    (B) radiation
    (C) evaporation
    (D) condensation

  9. The process by which water vapor in the air changes into liquid water is called:
    (A) convection
    (B) radiation
    (C) evaporation
    (D) condensation

  10. The water droplets that fall from clouds are called:
    (A) precipitation
    (B) orographic lift
    (C) land-sea breezes
    (D) mountain-valley breezes

  11. The lifting of air over a mountain range is called:
    (A) precipitation
    (B) orographic lift
    (C) land-sea breezes
    (D) mountain-valley breezes

  12. The breeze that blows from the land to the sea during the day is called:
    (A) precipitation
    (B) orographic lift
    (C) land-sea breezes
    (D) mountain-valley breezes

  13. The breeze that blows from the sea to the land at night is called:
    (A) precipitation
    (B) orographic lift
    (C) land-sea breezes
    (D) mountain-valley breezes

  14. A warm, dry wind that blows down the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains is called a:
    (A) Chinook wind
    (B) Santa Ana wind
    (C) Foehn wind

  15. A hot, dry wind that blows from the deserts of the Southwest to the coast of California is called a:
    (A) Chinook wind
    (B) Santa Ana wind
    (C) Foehn wind

  16. A warm, dry wind that blows down the Alps is called a:
    (A) Chinook wind
    (B) Santa Ana wind
    (C) Foehn wind

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