CHAP – ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE

Weight decreases with height , so pressure decreases with height.

ICAO had adopted hPa as the unit of atmospheric pressure in place of milliber (mb).
The other units cm, mm and inches.
1hPa = 100Pa
1hPa = 1mb
Pressure = force/area
As altitude increases, temperature decreases.
NOTE:-
● With increase in altitude, temperature reduces which causes density to increases,
● At the same time with increase in altitude, pressure reduces which causes
density to decrease.
● Effect of pressure is more at density as compared to the temperature. So with
increase in altitude, density decreases.
● In low pressure, temperature is high, wind speed is more and density is low,
winds are light.
● In high pressure, temperature is low, wind speed is less, density is high and wind
is heavy.

Measurement :- Pressure is measured by Mercury Barometer and Aneroid

Barometer. Aneroid Barometer is not as accurate as Mercury Barometer but for its
ease of handling and convenience it is widely used.

Isobar :- It is the line joining places of equal pressure.

Isallobars :- It is the lines joining places of equal pressure change are called
isallobars.
Contours :- The lines joining places of equal height is called contours.

Low Pressure

Area is enclosed b/w closed isobars with least pressure inside. Winds in low
pressure area are anticlockwise in northern hemisphere.

Trough of Low (Marked in red line)

High Pressure Area

Ridge of High (Marked in blue colour)

A line extending from high pressure area along which pressure is highest is called
Ridge of High. Either side of ridge pressure will be low.
Ridge of high are rounded and not V-Shaped.
Here weather is fair and not bad.

Col
Col is a region enclosed b/w two high and two lows.

Veer, Back, Underread/Overread

The isobar towards high pressure area is two hpa higher than towards low. Weather
within a Col is a mixture of high and low winds are light variable pressure at Col is
uniform.

Veer :- when the wind flows from warm to cold surface (high to low pressure). Wind
will veer with height.

Backing :- When the wind flows from cold to warm surface (low to high pressure).
Wind will back with height.