cyclostrophic wind

cyclostrophic wind

[¦sī·klō¦strä·fik ′wind] (meteorology) The horizontal wind velocity for which the centripetal acceleration exactly balances the horizontal pressure force.

cyclostrophic wind

cyclostrophic windGeostrophic wind.cyclostrophic windCyclostrophic windA class of wind markedly curved in which the Coriolis force is negligible in comparison with centripetal force. Such a state is possible when the radii of curvature of flow is very small; it normally occurs in low latitudes. Dust devils, water spouts, and tornadoes are examples of such motions.