OT weather

[Leon Goldstein]

Joel Hammer wrote:

>Speaking of bad weather, does anyone know why these
>artic air masses move South sometimes but not at other
>times? Seems to me if you want to understand the weather,
>if have to figure out why the wind blows in one direction
>today, and in another direction tomorrow.
>

High pressure, resulting from higher density of cold air, seeks equilibrium.
Wind direction appears to change because winds blow in a circular motion, thanks to
coriolis effect.  High pressure systems rotate clockwise, low pressure systems counter clockwise
(in the N. hemisphere.) As the mass of rotating air moves, (from high pressure to low) the perceived
wind direction changes, i.e. frontal passage.

Now add a bit of convective air flow and uneven radiant heating over the terrain or water the air is moving, and
the neat physics get sloppy.


-- 
Leon A. Goldstein

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