What Is Pressure Gradient Force?
The push air gets from high pressure toward low pressure. The closer the isobars, the stronger the wind. In technical terms: The force per unit mass arising from spatial pressure differences, equal to -(1/ρ)∇p, directed from high to low pressure and proportional to the pressure gradient; balanced by the Coriolis force in geostrophic flow.
Also called: PGF
Pressure Gradient Force In Plain English
The push air gets from high pressure toward low pressure. The closer the isobars, the stronger the wind.
The Technical Definition
The force per unit mass arising from spatial pressure differences, equal to -(1/ρ)∇p, directed from high to low pressure and proportional to the pressure gradient; balanced by the Coriolis force in geostrophic flow.
Lessons That Use Pressure Gradient Force
- What Makes The Wind Blow: Pressure Gradient And Coriolis Unit 3: Wind And Pressure Systems
- How Computer Forecast Models Work Unit 14: Forecast Models
