Pressure jump

From Glossary of Meteorology



pressure jump

Dynamically the same as the hydraulic jump, but in meteorological contexts the equations are applied to a temperature inversion or to a system of two inversions.

The phenomenon of a pressure jump is thus a steady-state propagation of a sudden finite change of inversion height, in analogy to the shock wave in a compressible fluid. The prefrontal squall line has been interpreted as a pressure jump, with the cold front providing the initial pistonlike impetus.
See also compression wave.


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