Random Chaos
(Weather Analyst)
Thu Sep 08 2005 12:51 AM
Re: Tropical Storm Ophelia Forms off Florida East Coast

Ok...let me see if I can explain

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Pressure fall leads to a wind increase. This wind increase can be after the pressure fall by a couple of hours.

The alternative is the central wind field can expand. This would leave the wind speeds the same or lower with a pressure drop. It can indicate a growing storm.

As someone mentioned a good analogy, think of a figure skater pulling their arms in. They go faster. That's what happens when an eye contracts. Now a pressure fall is the equivilent of spinning faster without changing your arms. If you let your arms out, it can return you your old rotational (ie wind) speed, but it expands the area within which you see that wind.

Does that help?



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