WW2010
University of Illinois

WW2010
 
  welcome
 
> online guides
 
  archives
 
  educational cd-rom
 
  current weather
 
  about ww2010
 
  index

Online Guides
 
  introduction
 
> meteorology
 
  remote sensing
 
  reading maps
 
  projects, activities

Meteorology
 
  introduction
 
  air masses, fronts
 
  clouds, precipitation
 
  el nino
 
> forces, winds
 
  hurricanes
 
  hydrologic cycle
 
  light, optics
 
  midlatitude cyclones
 
  severe storms
 
  weather forecasting

Forces, Winds
 
  introduction
 
  pressure
 
> pressure gradient
 
  coriolis force
 
  geostrophic wind
 
  gradient wind
 
  friction
 
  boundary layer wind
 
  sea breezes
 
  land breezes

User Interface
 
  graphics
> text

NOTE: We've guessed that you're not using a client that supports colored tables and have tried to compensate. Low graphics mode looks much better on clients that do... we recommend switching to Netscape 3.0 or Microsoft Internet Explorer.
.
Pressure Gradient Force
directed from high to low pressure

The change in pressure measured across a given distance is called a "pressure gradient".

The pressure gradient results in a net force that is directed from high to low pressure and this force is called the "pressure gradient force".

[Image: animation of air directed by the pressure gradient force (35K)]
Animation by: Hall

The pressure gradient force is responsible for triggering the initial movement of air.



Pressure
Terms for using data resources. CD-ROM available.
Credits and Acknowledgments for WW2010.
Department of Atmospheric Sciences (DAS) at
the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

coriolis force