rõhujooned

Rõhujooned, also known as isobars, are lines on a weather map that connect points of equal atmospheric pressure. They are a fundamental tool in meteorology for visualizing and understanding weather patterns. The closer the isobars are to each other, the steeper the pressure gradient, which indicates stronger winds. Conversely, widely spaced isobars suggest a weaker pressure gradient and lighter winds.

Isobars are typically drawn at standard intervals, such as every 4 millibars or hectopascals. Areas of high atmospheric pressure, known as highs or anticyclones, are typically characterized by closed isobars with pressure increasing towards the center. These areas are often associated with fair weather. Conversely, areas of low atmospheric pressure, known as lows or cyclones, are also indicated by closed isobars, with pressure decreasing towards the center. Low-pressure systems are frequently linked to unsettled weather, including cloudiness, precipitation, and storms.

The pattern and orientation of isobars reveal the direction of wind flow. In the Northern Hemisphere, winds generally flow counterclockwise around low-pressure systems and clockwise around high-pressure systems, deflected by the Coriolis effect. In the Southern Hemisphere, the circulation is reversed. Meteorologists use isobars to track the movement and development of weather systems, predict wind speed and direction, and forecast weather conditions. Understanding the pressure distribution depicted by isobars is crucial for accurate weather analysis and forecasting.