Atmospheric Pressure and Winds

The atmosphere exerts pressure because air has weight but we don’t feel the enormous pressure
of air. It is because we are supported by an equal of air on all sides of our bodies and the air
inside us exerts equal amount of pressure balancing the inward pressure of the atmosphere.

The pressure exerted by the weight of vertical column of air per unit area is called atmospheric
pressure.

• Atmosphere surrounding the Earth is a mixture of gases. It is bound by the Earth due to
gravity, which does not allow air to escape to outer space.
• Atmospheric pressure is not the same everywhere.
• Air pressure decreases with increase in altitude.

The rate of change in atmospheric pressure between two places is called the pressure gradient.
The greater the difference in pressure between two places, the faster the winds will blow.

The envelope of air that surrounds the Earth is called atmosphere. We are surrounded by air yet
we do not feel its presence, unless there is a horizontal motion in it.

Creation of winds: Any variation in the atmospheric pressure give rise to horizontal movement
of air called winds. Winds always blow from a region having high pressure to a low pressure
region.

Influence on weather: Change in atmospheric pressure cause change in weather.

Air in horizontal movement is called Wind. The vertical movement of air is called Current.

Although air is not as dense as land and water, it has height. The pressure it exerts on the surface
is called Atmospheric Pressure.

Measurement of Atmospheric Pressure

Atmospheric pressure is measures most accurately with the help of Mercury Barometer.
Aneroid barometer is more commonly used to measure atmospheric pressure as it is handy and
does not have any liquid. The normal atmospheric pressure at sea level is 76 cm of mercury
column in the barometer or 1013 mb.
Anemometer Mercury Barometer Aneroid Barometer

Isobar is an imaginary line drawn on a map or a weather

chart, joining places having equal atmospheric pressure.

Altimeter is a modified type of Aneroid barometer used in

aeroplanes to find out their flying height.

Barogram is a continuous record of changes of atmospheric

pressure as measured by an aneroid barometer, indicated by
a curve drawn on scaled paper.

Factors affecting distribution of Air pressure at a place:

Altitude: The pressure decreases with the increase in altitude. Altitude means height. At sea
level atmospheric pressure is about 1.03 kg per sq centimeter. If the atmospheric pressure
decreases we would feel uncomfortable. This is what happens when we climb mountains. For
every 110m of ascent there is a decrease of 1 cm of mercury.

Temperature: Temperature is inversely proportional to pressure. It is because with the rise in

temperature, the air gets heated and rises up. Its density decreases with the increase in
temperature, as the molecules start moving faster and further apart from each other. Hence, air
becomes lighter when temperature increases.

As the air expands, it creates low pressure area. Hence, when temperature is high, low pressure is
created and when temperature is low air becomes heavier and denser and high pressure is
developed.
The atmospheric pressure is influenced by temperature and the variation in temperatures and
pressures cause the wind system of the world.

Rotation of the Earth: The rotation of the earth causes bulk of air to swing from Poles towards
the Equator. Polar region have high pressure belts due to extremely cold conditions. The air
sinking down the Polar region expands and its pressure decreases. Thus, the low pressure belts
are formed 600N and 600S latitudes.

The Coriolis force and its effect: If the Earth did not
rotate on its axis, winds would follow the direction of the
pressure gradient. Instead, earth’s rotation produces
Coriolis force which tends to turn the flow of air. The
direction of action of the Coriolis force is stated in Ferrell’s
law “any object including air and ocean currents tend to
deflect to the right in the northern hemisphere and left in
the southern hemisphere.

Water vapor: The air with water vapor or the humid air is lighter than dry air because water
vapor present in the air displaces an equal amount of dry air, thus making air lighter.

Distribution of Pressure on Earth’s surface

Equatorial Low Pressure belt (100N to 100S): the equatorial region especially between 50N and
50S receive direct rays of Sun. Due to rapid terrestrial radiation the hot air expands and becomes
less dense. The air near the earth’s surface gets heated and rises up giving rise to low pressure.
The ascending conventional air currents lead to conventional rainfall in the afternoon with
violent squalls and thunder storms.

This low pressure belt is called Doldrums, after and English word “dull”. Sailors avoid this
region because of lack of regular winds in this region.

Sub-Tropical High Pressure Belts (250 to 350 N and S): The subtropical high pressure belts lie
adjacent to Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. This region gets slant rays of the Sun,
therefore here the temperature is lea compared to the equatorial region.

The warm air which starts blowing towards the poles gets cooled and starts sinking in this
region. Due to rotation of the earth, the surrounding air also tends to sink in this region creating a
high pressure belt.

The sub-tropical high pressure belts is the region of calm winds. It is referred as the ‘Horse
latitude’.

Sub Polar Low Pressure Belts (600 to 650 N and S): The belt extends from 600N to 650N and
600S to 650S of the Equator. These belts should actually be high pressure belts but there is a low
pressure belt which is created mainly due to the effect of rotation of the Earth that swing the bulk
of air from poles towards the Equator.

The cold air at the poles expands and their pressure decreases forming low pressure belts
surrounding the two Polar regions.

These belts are the areas of convergence of Westerlies and Polar winds with cyclonic activities
and storminess, especially in winter season.

The winds in Southern hemisphere blow with great speed as there is very less land mass which
obstruct the path near the latitudes 400S to 600S. Hence the winds at 400S are called Roaring
Forties, at 500S they are called Furious Fifties and at 600S they are called Screaming Sixties.

Polar High Pressure Belts (800N to 900N and 800S to 900S): Due to extreme cold temperature
throughout the year, the region develops a belt of dense, heavy sinking air causing high pressure.
Due to the rotation of the Earth, a strong centripetal force is caused which contributes to the high
pressure over here.
 EXERCISE

I. Fill it the blanks:

a. Atmosphere is bound by the Earth due to __________________

b. The rate of change of atmospheric pressure between two places is called as

_________________

c. ___________________________ is commonly used to measure the atmospheric pressure.

d. The normal atmospheric pressure at sea level is ________ of _____________ column in a

barometer or ______ mb.

e. ___________________ is inversely proportional to pressure.

f. The conventional rainfall occurs in the ________________________ pressure belt.

g. The sub-tropical high pressure belt is also known as __________________ latitude.

h. A strong __________________________ is caused in the polar region which contributes to

the high pressure.

II. State True or False.

a. Atmospheric pressure is the same everywhere.

b. Winds always blow from a region having high pressure to a region having low pressure.

c. Change in atmospheric pressure causes change in weather.

d. Pressure increases with the increase in altitude.

e. When air expands it creates a low pressure.

f. Due to the rotation of the Earth, air swing from the Equator towards the poles.

g. Westerlies blow in the sub-tropical region.

III. Answer the following:

1. Define the following:

a. Atmospheric pressure b. Pressure gradient c. Isobar

2. Name the factors which affect the atmospheric pressure at a place

3. Name the pressure belts of the world with their latitudinal extent.

4. What is Coriolis effect?

IV. Give the geographical reasons for the following:

a. We do not feel the enormous pressure exerted by the atmosphere on us.

b. Aneroid barometer is commonly used to measure the atmospheric pressure.
c. Air becomes lighter and a low pressure is created when temperature increases.
d. Low pressure regions are formed in the sub-polar regions (600N and 600S).
e. Humid air is lighter than dry air.
f. Conventional rainfall occurs in equatorial low pressure belt.
g. Sailors avoid Doldrums region.
h. Winds blow with a great speed in the Sub-polar region of the Southern Hemisphere.
i. Polar region has high pressure.

The movement in the atmosphere may be divided in to three categories:

1. Primary Circulation
2. Secondary Circulation
3. Tertiary Circulation

Primary Circulation: It includes the permanent winds, prevailing winds. They are also known
as planetary winds as they blow regularly in the same direction in certain longitudinal zones
corresponding to the major pressure belts of the world. There are three main types of planetary
winds.

Trade Winds: The trade winds are the permanent surface winds which blow from the subtropical
latitude to the Doldrums. In the northern hemisphere Trade winds blow from Northeast to
Southwest, hence they are called Northeast Trade winds. In the southern hemisphere they blow
from Southwest to Northwest, hence called as Southwest Trade winds.
Westerlies: The Westerly winds blow from subtropical high pressure to sub polar low pressure
belts. They blow from Southwest to Northeast in northern hemisphere and from Northwest to
Southeast in the southern hemisphere.

They blow from west direction, hence called as Westerlies. Since they blow in the opposite direction
of the Trade winds they are also known as anti-trade winds.

In the southern hemisphere as there is less landmass, the Westerlies blow with great strength
between 400 and 500 latitudes and are called Roaring Forties and Furious Fifties.

The Polar Easterlies: These winds blow form the polar high pressure belts towards the sub polar
low pressure belts in both the hemispheres.

Secondary Circulation: Periodic winds develop as a result of variation in local temperature,

pressure and humidity. They consist of periodic or seasonal winds.

Shifting of World Pressure Belts and Winds: The Earth is inclined on its axis at an angle of 66.50
with respect to its poles and its orbital plain. Thus, the revolution of the Earth on an inclined axis
causes changes in relative position of the Earth and the Sun or an apparent migration of the Sun.

The shifting of pressure belts is 50 to 100 from its average position.

Consequences of Shifting of Pressure Belts and Wind Belts:

As the pressure belts and wind belts shift with seasons, consequently the belts that receive rainfall by
the prevailing winds also change.

The Mediterranean region which lies between 300 and 400 N and S has trade winds blowing during
their summer season. These winds blow off-shore and are dry.
The Mediterranean region comes under the influence of wet Westerlies in winter season due to
shifting of pressure belts. So, the region receives rainfall in winter.

Sea Breeze: During the day time low pressure is developed on the land and high pressure is
developed on the surface of the Sea. Hence the winds start blowing from Sea to Land.

Land Breeze: During the night time low pressure is developed on the Sea and high pressure is
developed on the land. Hence the winds start blowing from land to sea.

Monsoon winds: They are the seasonal winds similar to land and sea breezes except that they are
seasonal rather than a daily phenomenon. An important feature of the monsoon system winds is the
seasonal reversal of wind direction.

Monsoon winds are best developed over the Indian subcontinent. They are developed due to the
unequal heating of land and sea. They blow from Sea to land for six months during the summers as
low pressure is developed over the land. They blow from land to sea for six months during the
winters as low pressure is developed over the sea.

Land and Sea Breeze Monsoon Winds

Land and sea breezes are experienced along the They are experienced over a large area of tropical
coastal region due to local variation in region due to great contrast in temperature and
temperature and air pressure between land and air pressure between land and sea.
sea.

They occur daily. Land breeze blows from land They are seasonal winds. They blow from sea to
to sea at night and sea breeze blows from sea to land from six months in summer and from land
land during the day time. to sea for six months in winter

They do not bring rain but they have moderating The summer monsoons (south west) bring heavy
effect on the temperature of the coastal areas. rainfall over the area they blow. They are dry in
winters.

Cyclones: A cyclone is a high pressure area with a low pressure in the centre. The high pressure
diminishes towards. Cyclones are often stormy and give heavy rainfall. They are known with
different names in different parts of the world.

Hurricanes in Westindies
Typhoons in China
Cyclones in Indian Ocean

Tropical Cyclone Temperate Cyclones

They originate over the western parts of the They originate in the temperate latitudes.
oceans between 80 and 200 North and South of
the Equator.

They occur during late summer season when These winds do not mix easily and form front.
doldrums belt of low pressure shift far from the The warm air being lighter rises over cold air
Equator. leads to condensation and precipitation. They are
 more frequent in winters.

They are very destructive. Strong winds may They bring wet stormy conditions with extensive
uproot trees and other structures. They are more clouds but they are not violent like tropical
violent. cyclones.

Anticyclone: It is a low pressure area with high pressure in the centre. They do not move in definite
directions. The winds are often calm and dry.

EXERCISE

[Link] in the blanks

a. The ______________ winds blow regularly in the same direction in certain longitudinal
zones.

b. The trade winds are permanent __________________ winds which blow from sub-tropical
latitudes to doldrums.

c. Westerlies are also known as __________________________ winds.

d. Periodic winds develop as a result of variation in __________ ___________________.

e. The revolution of the Earth on an ____________ __________ causes changes in relative

position of the Earth and the Sun.

f. The ___________________ region has the trade winds blowing during the summer season
and comes under the influence of __________________ in winter season.

g. Sea breeze occurs when ______________ pressure is developed over the surface of the sea.

h. Monsoons are experienced over a large area in the ___________________ region.

i. ______________________ cyclones are very destructive.

[Link] True or False:
a. The trade winds blow from west to east.

b. Westerlies blow with a great strength between 400 and 600 in both the hemispheres.

c. Sub-polar is a low pressure belt.

d. Secondary winds consist of periodic or seasonal winds.

e. The pressure belts and winds shift with seasons.

III. Answer the following:

Mention two characteristic features of primary winds and secondary winds.

What are the consequences of shifting of pressure belts?

What is Land breeze and Sea breeze?

Mention two differences between Land -Sea breeze and Monsoon winds

When do tropical cyclones occur?

What causes local winds?

IV. Give reasons

Primary winds are also known as planetary winds.

Westerlies are also known as anti-trade winds.

The pressure belts of the world shift their latitudinal extent

The Mediterranean region comes under the influence of westerlies.