Hurricane Wilma of 2005 is the most intense hurricane on record in the Atlantic basin, with a low-pressure reading of 882 mbar (millibars). Convert this reading into (c) inches of Hg.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the conversion factor between millibars and inches of mercury (Hg). The standard conversion is 1 inch of Hg = 33.8639 millibars.
2. Set up the conversion equation using the given pressure in millibars (882 mbar) and the conversion factor. The equation will be: Pressure in inches of Hg = Pressure in mbar / Conversion factor.
3. Substitute the given value into the equation: Pressure in inches of Hg = 882 mbar / 33.8639.
4. Perform the division to convert the pressure from millibars to inches of Hg.
5. The result will give you the pressure in inches of Hg, which represents the low-pressure reading of Hurricane Wilma.

Key Concepts

Pressure Units

Pressure is a measure of force applied per unit area, commonly expressed in various units such as pascals, atmospheres, and millibars. In meteorology, millibars (mbar) are frequently used to report atmospheric pressure, where 1 mbar equals 100 pascals. Understanding these units is essential for converting between different pressure measurements.

Conversion Factors

Conversion factors are numerical values used to convert a quantity expressed in one unit to another unit. For pressure, the conversion from millibars to inches of mercury (inHg) involves knowing that 1 mbar is approximately equal to 0.02953 inHg. Mastery of conversion factors is crucial for accurately translating measurements across different systems.

Atmospheric Pressure and Weather

Atmospheric pressure is the weight of the air above a given point and plays a significant role in weather patterns. Low-pressure systems, like hurricanes, are associated with stormy weather and can lead to severe conditions. Understanding the relationship between pressure readings and weather phenomena is vital for interpreting meteorological data.