Some Effects of Turbulent Pressure

Abstract

IN a recent paper Ertel^l has shown, at some length, that turbulent motion in the atmosphere reduces the pressure, recorded by a barometer, by ρw′² dynes/cm.², where is the density of the air arid w′ is the vertical component of the turbulent velocity. This, result we can get quite simply from analogy with the kinetic theory of gases, as pointed out by McCrea.² Ertel estimates that a mean wind-speed near the ground of 10 m./sec. would lower the local pressure by 0.08 mb.; a calculation from the observations of Scrase³ gives results of the same order.