answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

The geostrophic wind balance is not possible because the Coriolis force vanishes at the Equator.

User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

AnswerBot

4mo ago

Geostrophic wind is not possible at the equator because the Coriolis force is negligible at the equator due to the Earth's rotation, resulting in a weak pressure gradient force dominating. This weak Coriolis force prevents the balance between pressure gradient force and Coriolis force required for geostrophic winds.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

Because there is no Coriolis Force at the equator.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

One element needed in hurricane formation is the Coriolis effect, a consequence of earth's rotation. Near the equator this effect is too weak for hurricanes to form.

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Explain why Geostrophic wind is not possible at the equator?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Natural Sciences

When winds blow parallel to isobars what kind of wind is it?

When winds blow parallel to isobars, it is called geostrophic wind. This wind results from the balance of the pressure gradient force and the Coriolis force acting on the air. Geostrophic winds are typically found at high altitudes and are commonly seen in the upper atmosphere.


What is the formation of a geostrophic wind?

A geostrophic wind is a wind that flows parallel to the isobars, i.e., lines of constant pressure. It is the result of a balance between the pressure gradient force and the Coriolis force. In the Northern Hemisphere, geostrophic winds blow clockwise around high pressure and counterclockwise around low pressure systems.


What do surface winds mean?

The wind at a standard height of 10 m 33 ft above ground. Differs from the geostrophic wind and the gradient wind because of friction with the Earth's surface.


What forms winds?

Winds are caused by the movement of air from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. This movement is influenced by the Earth's rotation, temperature differences, and the geography of the land. Winds can also be affected by the presence of large-scale weather systems such as fronts and cyclones.


In Which direction is wind usually flow?

The first movement of air (wind) is always from high to low pressure. This is known as the Pressure Gradient Force (PGF). However, because the Earth is rotating, the Coriolis effect causes the wind to be deflected through 90 degrees. The resulting wind is known as the Geostrophic wind, and it blows parallel to isobars.

Related questions

What is the difference between gradient wind and geostrophic wind?

The gradient wind is a wind that blows parallel to curved isobars around a low-pressure system, while the geostrophic wind is a wind that flows parallel to straight isobars in an area of high or low pressure. The geostrophic wind is a simplified theoretical concept, while the gradient wind is a more complex real-world wind phenomenon that accounts for the curvature of the isobars.


When winds blow parallel to isobars what kind of wind is it?

When winds blow parallel to isobars, it is called geostrophic wind. This wind results from the balance of the pressure gradient force and the Coriolis force acting on the air. Geostrophic winds are typically found at high altitudes and are commonly seen in the upper atmosphere.


What is the formation of a geostrophic wind?

A geostrophic wind is a wind that flows parallel to the isobars, i.e., lines of constant pressure. It is the result of a balance between the pressure gradient force and the Coriolis force. In the Northern Hemisphere, geostrophic winds blow clockwise around high pressure and counterclockwise around low pressure systems.


How geostrophic wind becomes ageostrophic under the influence of friction?

geostrophic wind is blowing parallel to the straight isobar balancing between pressure gradient force and coriolis force.when a third force i.e. force of friction act near to the earth surface the three forces balance each other,now this time the wind blow in a curved path and in this case geostrophic wind parallel to the curve isobar . hence geostrophic becomes ageostrophic.


Do you think geostrophic wind is real If yes or no support it?

Not really debatable.


A simple sentence involving geostrophic?

The geostrophic wind blows parallel to isobars due to the balance between the pressure gradient force and the Coriolis force.


How do you use a geostrophic-wind scale?

A geostrophic wind scale is a graphical device printed in synoptic weather charts available on weather fax or on the internet, like the ones compiled by Bracknell and other weather services. It enables estimation of the geostrophic wind velocity by measuring the distance between the isobars (lines of constant pressure) in the weather chart and plotting this against the geographic latitude in the wind scale. step 1: determine the geographic latitude of the position you want to estimate the geostrophic wind speed for. step 2: measure the distance between the pressure lines (isobars) shown on either side of that position. step 3: choose the correct latitude line in the geostrophic wind scale or interpolate in the scale, using the result of step 1. step 4: plot the distance measured in step 2 on that line. step 5: read the estimated wind speed from the scale, using the curved lines. NOTE that the geostrophic wind is only a theoretical wind flowing parallel to the isobars in the chart. The true wind always is reduced by friction against the earth or sea surface and will be deflected towards the centre of the low pressure system which is circled by the isobars you used.


When winds blow parallel to the isobars which is usually the case for winds aloft they are called?

When winds blow parallel to the isobars, this is known as geostrophic flow. Geostrophic winds occur at high altitudes where the Coriolis force balances the pressure gradient force. This results in straight, parallel wind lines with minimal curvature.


What do surface winds mean?

The wind at a standard height of 10 m 33 ft above ground. Differs from the geostrophic wind and the gradient wind because of friction with the Earth's surface.


Why geostrophic balance is a good approximation to the observed wind?

It is useful as it contains all the force balances that drive the wind in a free atmosphere (frictionless) in a synoptic scale feature. Deriving the frictional component is unnecessarily expensive. Note, since this question is in "Hurricanes Typhoons and Cyclones", be careful not to use geostrophic wind equation for winds around these features. The Rossby radius is too large, and you are better off using gradient wind balance.


What is is the geostrophic wind?

The geostrophic wind is a theoretical wind that would result from an exact balance between the pressure gradient force and the Coriolis force in the horizontal direction. It flows parallel to isobars, with stronger winds occurring where pressure gradients are steeper. It is an important component of the large-scale atmospheric circulation.


What forms winds?

Winds are caused by the movement of air from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. This movement is influenced by the Earth's rotation, temperature differences, and the geography of the land. Winds can also be affected by the presence of large-scale weather systems such as fronts and cyclones.