ATM OCN (Meteorology) 100 - Lecture 3
THE THEORY OF WINDS:
PART II - FUNDAMENTAL FORCES
Fall 1997
Lecture #18 Scheduled for:
15 OCT 1997 (W)
Recommended Readings from Moran and Morgan (1997):
pages 201-210.
Objectives:
- To analyze the horizontal atmospheric pressure field on a
surface synoptic map.
- To describe the relationship between the observed winds and
the horizontal atmospheric pressure field pattern, relating the
spacing of isobars to the speed of wind.
- To briefly describe Newton's three laws of motion.
- To identify the forces acting on an air parcel that initiate,
maintain and modify atmospheric motion.
- To explain why gravity only influences vertical motion and
not horizontal motion of air.
- To describe the pressure gradient force and its components
- the horizontal and vertical pressure gradient force.
- To describe the influence of the Coriolis effect upon free-moving
objects or fluids and list two factors that influence the magnitude
of this effect.
- To describe the effect of friction upon the speed and direction
of the horizontal surface winds.
- To distinguish between centripetal force and centrifugal force.
Outline:
A. CONCEPTS OF THE WIND - EXPLANATIONS OF ATMOSPHERIC MOTION
- Practical Problems
- Historical Concepts
- The Forces of Motion & Newton's Laws
- Implications of the Newtonian Laws
- Vectors, Forces and Units
B. FORCES ASSOCIATED WITH ATMOSPHERIC MOTION
- Reasons for Atmospheric Motions
- Complications involved with Atmospheric Motion
- Three Dimensional Equation of Motion for the Atmosphere
- The Forces
- Gravitational Force or Gravity
- Pressure Gradient Force
- Coriolis Effect or "Force"
- Frictional Force or Friction
- Centripetal Force
Last revision 26 October 1997
Produced by Edward J. Hopkins, Ph.D.
Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI 53706
hopkins@meteor.wisc.edu