Book 7, Question 59
Why Do Isobars Look Like Squiggly Lines on Maps?
Isobars are lines on a weather map that connect places with the same air pressure. Pressure changes from place to place in curvy ways, so the lines wiggle and curl, just like the lines on a hiking map. They tell us where to expect stronger or gentler winds.
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 7
More fun facts
- Iso means equal, and a bar is a unit of pressure. So isobar means equal pressure.
- The word bar comes from the Greek word baros, which means weight.
- A millibar is one thousandth of a bar.
- The closer together the isobars are, the faster the air pressure changes from place to place.
- Weather stations adjust their pressure readings to what they would be at sea level, so maps from high and low places can be compared.
Questions kids ask
What does isobar mean?
Equal pressure. Iso means equal, and bar is a unit of pressure.
What do close-together isobars mean?
The pressure changes quickly there, which usually means stronger winds.