pressure gradient
McGraw-Hill Science & Technology Dictionary:
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pressure gradient
(′presh·ər ′grād·ē·ənt)
(fluid mechanics) The rate of decrease (that is, the gradient) of pressure in space at a fixed time; sometimes loosely used to denote simply the magnitude of the gradient of the pressure field. Also known as barometric gradient.
(meteorology) The change in atmospheric pressure per unit horizontal distance, usually measured along a line perpendicular to the isobars.
Oxford Dictionary of Geography:
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pressure gradient
Also known as barometric gradient, this is the rate of change in atmospheric pressure between two areas, providing a force which moves air from high to low in an effort to even up the unequal mass distribution of the air. On a global scale, the most powerful pressure gradients are in a meridional direction, caused by meridional disparities in insolation. It is routine in meteorology to show this horizontal distribution of pressure in terms of the height of isobaric surfaces, such as the 500 mb level, above ground.
The pressure gradient wind is the movement of air in response to pressure differences, blowing from high to low. It is modified, however, by the action of the Coriolis force. Where the isobars are close together, there is a steep pressure gradient, and winds are strong. Widely spaced isobars indicate a gentle pressure gradient, and winds are generally light.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Aviation:
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pressure gradient
The change in pressure with horizontal distance at a fixed time. The higher the pressure gradient, the faster is the fluid flow.
Pressure gradient.
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McGraw-Hill Science & Technology Dictionary
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms. Copyright © 2003, 1994, 1989, 1984, 1978, 1976, 1974 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Oxford Dictionary of Geography
A Dictionary of Geography. Copyright © Susan Mayhew 1992, 1997, 2004. All rights reserved.
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