Geostrophic Adjustment
A.
Parcel at rest initially
accelerates toward lower
pressure.
B.
Coriolis Force rotates
parcel to right in NH.
C.
As parcel speeds up,
Coriolis Force increases.
D.
Eventually (about a day),
PGF equals CF and flow
is parallel to isobars.
World Weather Project 2010
Courtesy of M. Ramamurthy
U of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Animate Picture