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Buys Ballot's law is a meteorological principle that applies to the Northern Hemisphere. According to this law, if a person stands with their back to the wind, the atmospheric pressure will be low to the left and high to the right. This phenomenon occurs because the wind circulates counterclockwise around low-pressure areas in the Northern Hemisphere. The reverse is true for the Southern Hemisphere.
It's important to note that the angle between the pressure gradient force and the wind is not always a right angle in lower latitudes. In such cases, if you face away from the wind in the northern hemisphere's lower latitudes, the low-pressure centre will be to your left and somewhat towards the front.
Buys Ballot's Law was first derived from Ferrel's Law by William Ferrel and J.H. Coffin, and it takes its name from the man who initially published empirical data on it. Sailors often use this law to determine the location and movement of low-pressure systems. By combining it with observations of barometric pressure, cloud formations, wind speed, and sea conditions, sailors can navigate through depressions and severe storms more effectively. This law is particularly useful in determining whether a sailor is avoiding the dangerous quadrant of a tropical revolving storm or hurricane.
For the passing fronts element of the question, the sequence of events I was looking for were as follows;
As a warm front approaches, a region, usually from the south or southwesterly direction. Warm air, which is less dense, moves above colder air, forming a gentle slope along the boundary between the two air masses. As the warm air mass approaches, the leading edge of the warm front is often marked by the formation of high, wispy cirrus clouds.
Initial Weather Conditions:
Before the arrival of the warm front, the weather tends to be cool and stable.
As the warm front nears, the barometric pressure starts to fall, and winds gradually increase in intensity.
Approach of the Warm Sector:
As the warm front continues to advance, the initial cirrus clouds thicken and lower to form a layer of stratus clouds.
Precipitation usually begins as light rain or drizzle ahead of the front, caused by the ascent of the warm air over the colder air.
In the warm sector, the temperature rises steadily, and humidity increases. Fog or mist may develop due to the warm, moist air mass interacting with the cooler ground.
Passage of the Warm Front:
The warm front finally passes a given location when the warm air mass displaces the cooler air mass completely.
As the warm front moves overhead, rain becomes more steady and widespread. Nimbostratus clouds, which are thick and dark, dominate the sky.
The temperature continues to rise, and the air pressure reaches its lowest point just before the front passes.
Once the warm front has passed, there is a noticeable change in wind direction, shifting from easterly or southeasterly to southerly or southwesterly.
As the cold front approaches.
Following the passage of the warm front, a cold front will usually approach from the west or northwest.
Cold air, which is denser than the warm air, rapidly pushes under the warm air mass, forming a steeper slope along the boundary between the two air masses.
As the cold front approaches, towering cumulonimbus clouds may develop along the front, indicating the potential for severe weather.
Passage of the Cold Front:
The cold front passes a location when the cold air completely displaces the warm air.
Ahead of the front, there is a rapid change in weather conditions. The temperature often drops abruptly, and the air pressure rises sharply.
Showers, thunderstorms, or even squalls may occur along and just ahead of the cold front, bringing heavy rain, gusty winds, and possible lightning and thunder.
As the cold front moves through, the sky typically clears, and the temperature continues to drop.
Post-Frontal Conditions:
Once the cold front has passed, the wind direction shifts to westerly or northwesterly.
The temperature behind the cold front is usually cooler and the air is drier or less humid, and the skies become mostly clear or partly cloudy.
The air pressure begins to stabilise and rise, indicating a return to more stable weather conditions.
It's important to note that the actual sequence and characteristics of weather events can and usually do vary. The intensity of precipitation, cloud formations, and associated weather phenomena will depend on the specific atmospheric conditions during the passage of the fronts.
If you managed to get all of that, awesome!
Next question just around the corner. Have a great week.