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The review questions are provided as an aid in studying. They are similar to the questions that will appear on quizzes during the semester.
Suppose the wind in Dallas is from the southwest and is approximately in geostrophic balance.
(a) What is the orientation of the coriolis force?
(b) What is the orientation of the pressure gradient force?
(c) What is the orientation of the isobars?
Answer
(a) The coriolis force, in the northern hemisphere, is oriented 90 degrees to the right of the wind direction. In this case, with the wind blowing toward the northeast, the coriolis force must point toward the southeast.
(b) If the wind is in geostrophic balance, the horizontal pressure gradient force must be exactly opposite the coriolis force. Since the coriolis force points toward the southeast, the horizontal pressure gradient force must point toward the northwest.
(c) The isobars will be oriented southwest-northeast. This is parallel to the geostrophic wind, and at right angles to the pressure gradient itself.
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