elements of weather and climate

• temperature refers to the degree of hotness or coldness of a substance. It is a measure of the average speed or kinetic energy of atoms and molecules in a substance
• Air pressure is a force or weight of an air pressing continuously on a given area
• distribution of air pressure depends on A, altitude B, temperature
• isobars connects areas on the map that are having the same air pressure
• If the isobars are closely spaced, we can expect the pressure gradient force to be great, and wind speed to be high
• In areas where the isobars are spaced widely apart the pressure gradient is low and light winds normally exist.
• High speed winds develop in areas where isobars are closer.
• wind deflection is caused by friction and wind speed
• coriolis is a force w/c affects the direction of mov't of winds