29- SEVEN soBamIC PATTERNS) CHAPTER 9 THE SEVEN BASIC ISOBARIC PATTERNS. 1. Straight isobars Straight isctars are said to exist when the Isabars fun straight and nearly parale! for a few hundred mites. The pressure gradient is usually low, resulting in low wind speeds. Wine cirocion and force remain ‘cansiant so lang as the iscbars remain changed. ‘The weatner assccieted with straight isobars cannot bbe defined as it cepends on the properties of the air ‘mage in which these isobars exist NORTHERN HEMISPHERE ie SOUTHERN HERISPHERE te es a » i ee (2 SEVEN ISOBARIG PATTERNS) 2, Cyclone or low Gyclone cr iow is an area of low presture surrounded by areas of high pressure. The isobars ‘orm closed shapes. The winds blow spirally inwards, ant-clockwise in the northern hemisphere ard Clockyase in the southern hemisphere. The pressure agredient is usuelly high, resulting in strong winds. A few is an area of convergence of alr. On roacning the, centre, the air moves up as a strong upward current, resullng ip cumulus of cumulonimbus cfouds of very high vertical extent and heavy praciplation, Over the ‘actual centre of the fo, a thie downwarc stream of ait ‘exists, where a patch of bue sky may be seen. NORTHERN HEMGPHERE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERETT sourmentunasiea PUMARY LOW SECONDARY 10W A cyclonic pattem of isobare is eslted a low or ‘depression if the wind speed is 33 knots or less, 2 ‘eyclonic storm if the wind speed is fom 34 to 47 knots and a severe cyclonic storm ifthe wind speed is 48 knots or over. For further detafs, see Chapter {iled Tropical Revolving Storms: (2 SEVEN ISOBARIC PATTERNS) ‘As mentioned above, @ low Is a sign of bed ‘weather - strong winds, clouds, precipitation, etc. 3, Secondary eyelone or secondary low ‘Sometimes a low ie closely folowed by another, within iis pattern of isabars (see accompanying figure). The first one is called the primary and the second one, the secondary. The laller is so named ‘only because it formoc later but it possesses all the quclies of the primary and may either fil up and isappesr or it may intensity and swallow up primary. “4 Antieyeione or high ‘Anticyclone or high is an area of high pressure surounded by afess of Jow pressure, The isobars form closed shapes. The winds blow spirally ‘outwards, clockwise in the northern hemisphere and anteclackwise i the southem hemisphere. The pressure gradient is usually low resulting in low wind ‘speeds. An articyclone is an area of divergence of ait al sea level, This outflow of air is balanced by 2 downward current of ar at the conte. This descending column of cir warms up acisbaticaly and becomes relatively difer and drier as it descends (see under the heading of ‘Relative humicty’ in chapter 3) ‘There is 2 tolal absence of any cloud or praciptation ‘ever tha articycione. An anticycione ls, thersfore, 2 ‘sign of good weather - light winds, no’ clouds (blue ky), Ne Precipitation, good visibility, ete, However, as. tha subsiding dry ar reaches sea level and blows spirally culwards, quick evaporation tekes place and ifthe temperature ofthe ea sucace is quite low, mist{B SEVEN isoBARIC PATTERNS) for fog may form on the outar .finges of the ‘anticyclone. Even in such cases, visibly a the ‘centre will be good, Warm and cold anticyclone: if the descending air orginally came from a very cold source, would ’be colder then the surrounding air, oval for level, and, also et sea level itis then called.a co'd antcyclene. 19 SEVEN ISCBARG PATTERNS) One exami ofa cold snticyctone isthe righ over Siberia duting northern winter (6e0 map in chapter tiled ‘General pressure and wind disibution) Ir the doscoraing sir ofignally camo ftom a warm source, would be warmer than the surrounding a, tevel for level, and also al sea level iis ther called & ‘warm anicycone. Examples of werm ariieylones sae the permanent highs of $0°N and 30'S ot tho centres of large oceans (see map in chapter ttled “General pressure ang wid distrioution. 5. Col ‘Aol an area between two highs and no tows situated siernatly (see accompanying figure. Light Variable winds. are experienced but not for tong. ‘Sudden change of weather is ikely. Relative humiliy is fay gh and lightning may be seen. A Col may be ‘uated between a primeny low and secondary low 3s shown in the igure undee ‘Seconoery Low or may bo shuated al the Boundary betwen bo diferane at masses. In the ater case, the change ‘of weather, especialy temperature, wil be even more crasie. No Safin pater of weatha: Is assodisted wih a Co Foq may bo experienced in autumn. summer over land thundéretorms are frequently experiences, 6: Ridge or wedge A ridge or wedge is en area of high pressure jutting into areas of low pressuce, The Isobars are curved. with the. high pressire inside, and are generally far apert They do not necessanly form Closed shapes, A ritge may forn by self or it may be the outer fnges of an anticycione far away. n[9 ~ SEVEN OBARIC PATTERNS] ‘The weather associated with a ridge Is Ike that of ‘an anlicycione - no. precipitation, fight winds, no clouds. ‘A idge is alto experienced botwoen a'primary low ‘and iis secondary a5 shown in the figure under the heading of ‘Secondary low’. In such a case, the good ‘weather asociatod with it will be vary short fved - 2 ‘couple of hours only NORTHERN HeMIseaRE | SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE 7. Trough ‘A trough is an area of low pressure jutting into ‘areas of high pressure. The isobars are curved, wih tha low pressure inside, but they da not form closed shapes. The pressure Gradient is fairly high resulting in-s4rong winds. The winds blow from the high pressure areas towards tha areas of low pressure, boing deflected fo the right tho NH, and left in the B|~ SEVEN ISOBARIC PATTERNS] ‘SH, by Coriolis force. Bad weather is associated with ‘2 trough. Before the trough, pressure falls and ‘weather deteriorates. Afler the passage of a trough, pressure nses and wasthor improves, TORTHERN HEMISPHERE — NON-FRONTAL “There.are twa forms of trough: Non-frontal trough, In this case, the isobars curve genlly (chenge drettion gredualy), When a nen front trough passes. over en-observer, the wind voors gradually in the NH and backs gradually in the ” [8- SEVEN ISOBARIC PATTERNS) SH, The “U of the nonsrantal trough always pointe towards the equator Frontal trough: A frontal trough exists at the ‘eoundary between two diferent air-masses. The ‘V formed by Ihe isobars always pcints towards the ‘equator, On crossing a frontal trough, the iscbars change drection suddenly by about 20° - veers in the NH and backs in SH. Squsiis may be experienced, accarapanied by bghining and heavy precipitation. ‘Since one airmass is replaced by another, a sudden ‘change of temperature also {= éxperiencad on: lis passage, For further deteile see chapters ted ‘Air ‘masses end fronts’ and "Frontal depressions’. -000-