Frictional convergence: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 17:01, 25 April 2012

frictional convergence

The coming together (usually horizontally) of air due to drag against the surface being different at different locations.

A classic example is the wind blowing toward shore from over the ocean. The ocean is relatively smooth with little frictional drag, while the land, with trees and buildings, is rougher and has more drag. When the wind from the ocean reaches land, it will slow down due to the increased drag. Thus, air will be flowing toward the shore from the ocean faster than it will leave the shore over land, causing horizontal convergence. Mass continuity requires updrafts in these regions, thereby leading to enhanced cloudiness and possibly precipitation.
See aerodynamic roughness length.

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-<div class="definition"><div class="short_definition">The coming together (usually horizontally) of air due to [[drag]] against the  surface being different at different locations.</div><br/> <div class="paragraph">A classic example is the [[wind]] blowing toward shore from over the ocean. The ocean is relatively  smooth with little [[frictional drag]], while the land, with trees and buildings, is rougher and has  more drag. When the wind from the ocean reaches land, it will slow down due to the increased  drag. Thus, air will be flowing toward the shore from the ocean faster than it will leave the shore  over land, causing horizontal [[convergence]]. Mass continuity requires updrafts in these regions,  thereby leading to enhanced [[cloudiness]] and possibly [[precipitation]]. <br/>''See'' [[aerodynamic roughness  length]].</div><br/> </div>
+<div class="definition"><div class="short_definition">The coming together (usually horizontally) of air due to [[drag]] against the  surface being different at different locations.</div><br/> <div class="paragraph">A classic example is the [[wind]] blowing toward shore from over the ocean. The ocean is relatively  smooth with little [[frictional drag]], while the land, with trees and buildings, is rougher and has  more drag. When the wind from the ocean reaches land, it will slow down due to the increased  drag. Thus, air will be flowing toward the shore from the ocean faster than it will leave the shore  over land, causing horizontal [[convergence]]. Mass continuity requires updrafts in these regions,  thereby leading to enhanced [[cloudiness]] and possibly [[precipitation]]. <br/>''See'' [[aerodynamic roughness length|aerodynamic roughness  length]].</div><br/> </div>
 </div>