ATOC 184 Study Guide - Quiz Guide: Pressure-Gradient Force, Geostrophic Wind, Coriolis Force
17 Dec 2018
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Question 7: difference between geostrophic balance versus gradient balance. If turning right, the centrifugal force will be to the left. In a low pressure system when the winds are turning to the left (counter clockwise) the pgf is always pointing to low pressure (that never changes) coriolis forces is pointing to the right side of the wind. But the wind is going to the right so the centrifugal and coriolis force are pointed in the same direction; they"re working together. So neither of them have to be very strong (both apparent forces). The wind spread doesn"t need to be as large. So the wind tends to blow more slowly versus a high pressure system (where pgf and centrifugal force are pointed in the same direction) therefore the wind would have to increase in other to increase. With -> fast wind: clockwise turning -> centrifugal and pgf are pointed in same direction -> high wind speed.
