Question

What does steep air pressure gradient cause?

Answer 1

Hint: Any change in pressure over distance is a pressure gradient. The word ‘steep’ suggests that the pressure gradient is drastic and the word ‘gradient’ refers to the rate of ascent or descent.

Complete answer:
Air pressure is the pressure that the atmosphere of the Earth exerts on every object that it touches. Air with different densities and different temperatures also have different atmospheric pressures.

This variation in air pressure, causes movement of air all across our planet. When the temperature at one place increases, the air becomes rarer and rises. This brings down the air pressure of that region. As the air pressure decreases, the neighboring places have a comparatively higher pressure and thus, the air from those places come to the region with low air pressure. This difference in pressure is known as Air Pressure Gradient.

When the Air Pressure Gradient is steep, it means that there is a very huge difference in the air pressures of the two places that are being compared. It means that the air from the high pressure region will move towards the low pressure region with great intensity and speed. This is what gives rise to stronger winds and storms.

The word gradient is also used in the flow of current. Very similar to flow of air, current also flows from higher potential to lower potential and this difference in potential is known as Potential difference. Thus, both these examples can be used to explain each other as they are basically the same phenomenon.

Note:
- The standard pressure that air exerts on everything is 14.6 psi or 760mm of Hg.
- This unit is also called 1atm or 1 atmospheric pressure.
- 1atm pressure is also equal to 101325 Pascal.