What characteristics do surface winds exhibit in areas where isobars are closely spaced on a weather map?

Prepare for the ATPL Forum – Personal Section Test. Enhance your skills with multiple choice quizzes. Each question comes with detailed explanations and hints to guide you.

When isobars are closely spaced on a weather map, it indicates a steep pressure gradient in that area. This steep pressure gradient results in stronger winds. The wind will flow from areas of high pressure to low pressure, and its speed will increase as the space between the isobars narrows.

Additionally, winds in these areas typically flow somewhat across the isobars due to the Coriolis effect, which causes the wind to curve rather than move directly from high to low pressure. As a result, the winds can be observed to have a cross-isobaric flow to some degree, demonstrating both strength and a direction that is not perfectly aligned with the pressure gradient itself. This behavior is a fundamental aspect of meteorology, particularly in understanding local weather patterns and the dynamics of atmospheric motion.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy