Category 7 · Geography

Pressure, Winds and Atmospheric Moisture

8 micro topics in Geography for UPSC Prelims, in book order: Atmospheric Pressure, Isobars and Vertical Variation; Pressure Belts and Pressure Cells; and 6 more.

1. 7.1

   Atmospheric Pressure, Isobars and Vertical Variation

   Atmospheric pressure is the weight of the column of air above a unit area, about 1,013.25 millibars or hectopascals at sea level, measured with a barometer. It falls rapidly with height, by about 1 millibar for…

2. 7.2

   Pressure Belts and Pressure Cells

   The Earth has seven pressure belts: the equatorial low, the two subtropical highs near 30 degrees, the two subpolar lows near 60 degrees and the two polar highs. The equatorial low and polar highs are thermal…

3. 7.3

   Forces Affecting Wind Movement

   Wind is air in horizontal motion, and its speed and direction are decided by three forces: the pressure gradient force, which starts the movement from high to low pressure, the Coriolis force, which deflects it to…

4. 7.4

   General Circulation of the Atmosphere

   The general circulation of the atmosphere is the large-scale pattern of air movement that carries heat from the tropics to the poles. In the three-cell model, a Hadley cell lies from the equator to about 30…

5. 7.5

   Planetary, Seasonal and Local Winds

   Winds are of three kinds. Planetary or permanent winds, the trade winds, westerlies and polar easterlies, blow throughout the year over large areas. Seasonal or periodic winds, such as the monsoons and land and sea breezes,…

6. 7.6

   Water Vapour, Evaporation and Condensation

   Water vapour is the invisible gaseous form of water in the atmosphere, entering mainly by evaporation from the oceans and leaving by condensation. Humidity measures the amount of vapour in the air, as absolute, specific or…

7. 7.7

   Clouds, Fog and Forms of Condensation

   Condensation takes different forms depending on height and temperature. Near the ground it forms dew, frost, mist and fog, and aloft it forms clouds, collections of tiny water droplets or ice crystals. Clouds are classed by…

8. 7.8

   Precipitation and Types of Rainfall

   Precipitation is any form of water, liquid or solid, that falls from clouds to the ground: rain, drizzle, snow, sleet and hail. Droplets grow by the collision-coalescence process and the ice-crystal process until they are too…

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Frequently asked questions

Which topics are in Pressure, Winds and Atmospheric Moisture?

Pressure, Winds and Atmospheric Moisture has 8 micro topics in Geography: Atmospheric Pressure, Isobars and Vertical Variation; Pressure Belts and Pressure Cells; Forces Affecting Wind Movement; General Circulation of the Atmosphere; Planetary, Seasonal and Local Winds; Water Vapour, Evaporation and Condensation; Clouds, Fog and Forms of Condensation; Precipitation and Types of Rainfall.

Is Pressure, Winds and Atmospheric Moisture important for UPSC Prelims?

Pressure, Winds and Atmospheric Moisture is a part of the UPSC Prelims Geography syllabus map on MaargX UPSC. Each of its 8 published topics has key terms, a Mains angle and practice questions.