Question

Explain what friction corollas and a low pressure gradient does to an air parcel?

Answer 1

Answer with Explanation:

Coriolis Force - refers to the fictitious force that acts perpendicularly to the direction of a rotating motion.

Air parcel - refers to a body of air that is "imaginary."

Pressure gradient - the change in pressure across a given distance.

Pressure gradient force - the net force that is being directed from high pressure to low pressure.

When an air parcel is at rest, the pressure gradient force acts upon it. It will then move from high pressure to low pressure.

However, when the air parcel starts to be in motion, its direction will be changed with the help of the Coriolis force. Thus, it moves to the right side of the Northern hemisphere.

Once the speed of the wind increases, the change in direction of the air parcel increases. This happens until the pressure gradient force and the Coriolis Force are equal in magnitude. When this happens, the wind will start blowing parallel to the points of equal pressure. The wind will now then be referred to as in "geostrophic balance."

When friction happens, the geostrophic balance breaks. The flow of the wind will be slowed down. This means that the Coriolis force will also be lessened. The air parcel will then move towards the lower region.