Wind and isobars

[aswarmofmidges]

So an isobar is a line of constant pressure ( bit like contour lines )

But the wind doesn't flow from high to low but seems to go parallel to the isobar lines

What am I missing ?

[CrunchyCarrot]

The Coriolis force! Because the Earth rotates, this causes the wind to be deflected and follow the isobars.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

as Cruncy Carrot says.

It doesn't go exactly parallel to the isobars though, as it does flow some towards the centre too.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Argh, autocorrect kicked (badly!) in with CrunchyCarrots name.