Buys-Ballot's law

[ bahys-buh-lots ]

nounMeteorology.
  1. the law stating that if one stands with one's back to the wind, in the Northern Hemisphere the atmospheric pressure will be lower on one's left and in the Southern Hemisphere it will be lower on one's right: descriptive of the relationship of horizontal winds to atmospheric pressure.

Origin of Buys-Ballot's law

1
Named after C. H. D. Buys-Ballot (1817–90), Dutch meteorologist

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British Dictionary definitions for Buys Ballot's law

Buys Ballot's law

/ (baɪs bəˈlɒts, bɔɪs) /


noun
  1. a law stating that if an observer stands with his back to the wind in the N hemisphere, atmospheric pressure is lower on his left, and vice versa in the S hemisphere

Origin of Buys Ballot's law

1
named after C. H. D. Buys Ballot (1817–90), Dutch meteorologist

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012