According to Buys Ballot's law, if the wind is at your back, where is low pressure located in the northern hemisphere?

Prepare for the ATPL Meteorology Exam. Test your understanding with multiple choice questions and detailed explanations. Elevate your exam readiness!

Buys Ballot's law states that in the northern hemisphere, if you stand with your back to the wind, the area of low pressure will be located to your left. This principle arises from the way the Coriolis effect influences wind patterns, causing winds to deflect to the right of their motion in the northern hemisphere.

When the wind is at your back, the flow of air is typically moving from high pressure to low pressure. Consequently, knowing that low pressure areas generally correlate with counterclockwise wind movement in the northern hemisphere, if you align your body with the wind direction (winds coming from behind), the low pressure system would be positioned to your left side.

This understanding helps in weather forecasting and navigation, as recognizing the position of high and low pressure systems relative to the wind direction can provide valuable insights into expected weather conditions.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy