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Air Pressure and Winds
Objectives
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 After reading, studying, and discussing Chapter 6, you should be able to:
- Define air pressure, and explain how it is measured.
- Discuss pressure changes with increasing altitude.
- Describe the influence of temperature and water vapor on horizontal variations in air pressure.
- Explain how the movement of air can cause changes in air pressure.
- Outline in detail how the pressure-gradient force, the Coriolis effect, and friction each affect the wind.
- Define an isobar, and describe the relationship between the spacing of isobars and the amount of pressure change occurring over a given distance.
- Discuss winds aloft and geostrophic flow.
- Explain cyclonic and anticyclonic airflow.
- Describe surface winds and the forces that promote vertical airflow.
- Describe the instruments used to determine the two basic wind measurements: direction and speed.
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