High- & Low-Pressure Systems

Fricional Force - Changing the force of friction affects both the strength of the wind and the direction the wind flows relative to high- and low-pressure centers. On this animation, the force of friction is progressively increased from zero to one. The purple arrows indicate the direction of surface air flow given the frictional force on the top bar. Arrows at the bottom (a force vector diagram) show the relative strength of the forces influencing the wind. The red arrow in the force diagram at the bottom corresponds to the red arrow in the center of the animation Compare the flows on this animation with winds in a real surface low-pressure system. The angle that the winds cross the isobars in the real weather system and in the animation can be used to estimate the strength of the force of friction compared to the pressure gradient force.