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6 views

AAM Pressure

Uploaded by

Paras Arya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Atmospheric Pressure

Definition: It is defined as the weight exerted


by column of the air per unit area, above the
earth surface.

 Normally, when air pressure increases, more


molecules are present in a given volume,
when air pressure decreases fewer molecules
are present.

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Expression of atmospheric pressure
i. The height of a column of mercury in cm or
mm (eq. 76cm of Hg or 760mm Hg)
ii. Gram per cm2
iii. The unit of force in dynes/cm2 or in
millibars or in hecto pascals
 SI unit of pressure is pascal (1 Pa= 1 Nm-2)
1.Temperature
2. Altitude
3. Water vapour
4.Revolution
5.Gravitation of the earth

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1. Variation of pressure with time
i. Daily variation or diurnal variation
ii. Annual Variation
2. Variation of pressure with space
i. Variation of pressure with height (Vertical)
ii. Variation of pressure with distance (Horizontal)

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i. Daily or diurnal variation of pressure

Pmax = Primary maximum at 6 AM


Smax = Secondary maximum at 10 AM
Pmin = Primary minimum at 14 hrs (2 PM)
Smin = Secondary minimum at 22 hrs (10 PM) 6
ii. Annual variation of pressure

It can be obtained by plotting the mean


values of monthly pressure against each
month. In general, pressure is high in winter
months and low in summer months. Nature
of pressure variation depends on the
continents and ocean. The pressure is low in
the month of June in continents and it is
high in oceans.

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i. Vertical variation of pressure
 Pressure in the atmosphere decreases exponentially or
logarithmically with height.
 Pressure in the fluid is governed by the hydrostatic
equation of the atmosphere:

dP/dh = -ρg

50 % of the air is found in the first 5 km height in


atmosphere.

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Variation with height in atmospheric pressure and
air temperature
Altitude (m) Pressure (mb) Temperature (0C)
Sea level 1013.25 15.0
1,000 898.76 8.5
2,000 795.01 2.0
3,000 701.01 -4.5
4,000 616.60 -11.0
5,000 540.48 -17.5
10,000 264.00 -49.9
30,000 11.97 -46.6
60,000 0.22 -26.1
1,00,000 0.0003 -78.1
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Source: NOAA, 1976, Atmosphere, pp 53-68, U.S. Standard, Washington, D.C.
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ii. Horizontal variation of pressure
 The horizontal distribution of pressure or the pressure
field is represented by isobars and is critical to the nature of
wind flow.
Pressure gradient = dP/dx

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Wind
 Air in horizontal motion is known as wind.
Winds are important in making weather as they
transport large mass of heat, moisture and
momentum with air over long continental
distances and is responsible for change in weather.

 Winds turning to right from their course are


known as veer wind and if turning left from their
course are known as back wind.
Forces influencing wind

1. Pressure gradient force (PGF)

2. Coriolis force

3. Frictional force

4. Gravitational force

5. Centrifugal/Cyclostrophic wind

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1. Pressure gradient force (PGF)
 PGF is the driving force for winds. The atmospheric
pressure by itself is not a force, but differences in
pressure produce a force. The rate of change of pressure
with distance is known as pressure gradient.

 PGF is directly proportional to wind speed. It acts in


direction from higher towards lower pressure. Thus wind
will blow from higher to lower pressure area.
P+dP H+dH

P H
2. Coriolis/Geostrophic force

It is a self generating force arising due to rotation of the earth


Mathematical formula of coriolis force

F = 2ω SinƟ.V
Where, F = Coriolis force,
ω = Angular velocity of the earth
V = wind velocity
Ɵ = latitude
Role of coriolis force
1. CF affects direction of motion; as it acts only
at the right angles to the direction of moving
air.
2. The action of this force is to cause the wind
to be deflected to the right in the NH and to
the left in SH.
3. At a given latitude the magnitude of CF is
directly proportional to the speed of the
motion.
4. Coriolis force is maximum at the poles but
decreases to zero at the equator.
Fig. Coriolis force is maximum at the poles but
decreases to zero at the equator.
3. Frictional Force
This is also self generating force, which operates as soon as air
begins to move over the surface.
There are two kinds of frictional forces:
a. Surface friction-Nature of surface
b. Viscous force- Viscosity of air; applicable for micro layer.

4. Gravitational Force
This force of gravity always acts downwards on a parcel of air. It
plays an important role in vertical motion of air.

5. Centrifugal Force
This force arises & comes into play when the winds execute a
curvilinear motion. Acceleration away from the centre of rotation is
resulted.

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