Collin McCarn, Kristian Brown

Tyler Smith Chapter 16 Section 3

Winds

What causes Winds? Differences of air pressure caused by

unequal heating of the atmosphere are what cause winds.

Measuring Measuring winds. An Anemometer is used

to measure winds. The anemometer has three or four cups mounted at the ends of spokes that spin on an axle.

Local Winds Local winds are winds that blow over short

distances. They are caused by unequal heating of the Earth’s surface within a small area.

Monsoons Monsoons are sea and land breezes over

a large region that change direction with the seasons.

Global Winds Global winds are winds that blow steadily

from specific directions over long distances.

Global Convection Currents The movement of air between the equator

and the poles produces global convection currents.

The Coriolis Effect The way in which Earth’s rotation makes

winds curve is called the Coriolis Effect.

Global Wind Belt Wind that blows steadily from a specific

direction over long distances is called the Global Wind Belt.

Doldrums Doldrums are regions near the equator

with either little or no wind.

Horse Latitudes The Horse Latitudes are located 30

degrees north and south of the equator. The air stops moving toward the poles and sinks here.

. Hundreds of years ago, sailors ran out of food and had to throw their horses overboard. That is why the latitudes north and south of the equator are called horse latitudes.

Trade Winds High pressure causes surface winds to blow toward

the equator and away from it.

Prevailing Westerlies In the mid-latitudes, winds that blow toward

the poles are tuned toward the east. Because they blow from the west to the east, they are called Prevailing Westerlies.

Polar Easterlies Cold air near the poles sinks and flows

back toward lower latitudes.The Coriolis effect shifts these polar winds to the west, producing winds called the polar easterlies.

Jet Streams Jet Streams are bands of high speed wind about

10 kilometers above earth’s surface. These bands of high speed wind are hundreds of kilometers wide and a few kilometers deep. The winds blow from west to east at speeds of 200 to 400 kilometers per hour. When these winds travel easterly, the movement they take is in a wavy manner north to south. Airplanes use the jet stream when traveling to save time and fuel.