Global Winds

Global Winds and Local WindsWhat causes wind?

1. Wind is caused by the movement of air which is caused by differences in air pressure.

Differences in air pressure are caused by the uneven heating and cooling of the Earth.

2. Warm air is less dense and creates an area of low pressure

3. Cold air is more dense and creates an area of high pressure.

GLOBAL WINDS

QuestionsWhat winds would Columbus have used to travel from Spain to the Caribbean? Which winds would he have needed to return to Europe? Would winds have favored European explorers seeking to travel east around the tip of Africa?

Trade winds

Prevailing Westerlies

No

POLAR EASTERLIES GLOBAL WIND

1. Extend from the North and South Poles poles to 60 degrees latitude.

2. Polar easterlies carry cold arctic air

WESTERLIES- GLOBAL WIND

1. These wind belts lie between 30 and 60 degrees latitude.

2. Westerlies flow toward the poles from west to east.

3. Affects the weather in the United States.

TRADE WINDS1. Winds that blow from 30

degrees latitude almost to the equator, 0 degrees latitude.

2. Winds are named for the fact that these winds moved sailors across the Atlantic Ocean from Europe to the Americas.

3. Northeast Trade Winds blow from 30* North toward the equator, 0*

4. Southeast Trade Winds blow from 30* South toward the equator, 0*

DOLDRUMS- GLOBAL WINDThe trade winds meet at an area called the doldrums.

1. This area is located around the equator, 0 degrees latitude.

2. This is an area of low pressure where there is very little wind.

HORSE LATITUDES-GLOBAL WIND

1. Located at 30 degrees north and 30 degrees south latitude.

2. An area of little wind.Name given by sailors who got stuck here because of lack of wind, travel time was slow. Horses were thrown overboard to save water for sailors.

THE CORIOLIS EFFECT

1. The curving of winds due to the Earth’s rotation is called the Coriolis Effect.

2. Because of the Coriolis Effect winds curve to the east and west.Winds traveling north curve to the right, or east.Winds traveling south curve to the left or west

THE JET STREAM1. The jet streams are

narrow belts of high-speed winds that blow in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere.

2. Unlike global winds, jet streams do not follow regular paths.

3. Knowing the path of the jet stream can help airplane pilots travel faster as they ride the jet stream.

4. Meteorologists can track a storm if they know the location of the jet stream.

Local Winds

1. Move short distances and blow from any direction.Geographic features, a shoreline or a mountain can produce temperature differences.

2. Sea breeze3. Land breeze

www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es1903/es1903page01.cfm?chapter_no=19

3. Mountain Breeze4. Valley Breeze

SEA BREEZE- LOCAL WIND

During the day air over ocean is cooler and forms high pressure. Warm air over land, low pressure.Cool air moves inland and overtakes area of warm air.Cool air has higher pressure than warm air.

1. Wind moves from sea toward land.

LAND BREEZE- LOCAL WIND

At night air over ocean is warmer, warm air rises and creates low pressure.Air over land is cooler and creates high pressure. Cool air moves toward ocean causing a land breeze.

1. Wind moves from land toward sea.

Sea Breeze and Land Breeze Animation

http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_scienc/terc/content/visualizations/es1903/es1903page01.cfm?chapter_no=19local breeze

MOUNTAIN BREEZELOCAL WIND

At night mountains cool faster than valley. Cool air moves downward and creates a mountain breeze.

1. Mountain breeze moves down.

2. Cold air sinks.3. Cold air / High

pressure

VALLEY BREEZE LOCAL WIND

Sun warms the valley and the air above it. Warm air rises and moves up mountain causing a valley breeze.

1. Valley breeze moves up.

2. Warm air rises.3. Warm air /low

pressure

High Pressure and Low Pressure

1. Low Pressure / Warm Air

2. Cloudy weather occurs with low pressure.

3. High Pressure / Cold Air

4. Clear weather occurs with high pressure

Quiz1. Which type of breeze occurs when cool air moves from water

toward land?2. Which type of breeze occurs when cool air moves from land toward

water?3. What is the area of low pressure around the equator called? There

is low pressure and little wind here.4. High speed winds that occur in the upper troposphere and lower

stratosphere?5. Winds in the North curve to the right, or east, and winds in the

south curve to the left, or west. This is known as….6. Which wind belt affects most of the United States? They blow from

30* to 60* north and south.7. Cloudy weather occurs with……………pressure.8. Clear weather occurs with………………pressure.9. These winds blow from any direction and move short distances.10. Cold winds that blow from the poles to 60* latitude are called…..11. These winds are located at 30* N and 30* south latitude.12. These winds blow from 30* North and 30* South toward the

equator.13. This local wind is caused by cool air moving down the side of a

mountain14. This local wind is caused by warm air moving up from a valley.

Answers1. Sea breeze2. Land breeze3. Doldrums4. Jet stream5. Coriolis effect6. Westerlies7. Low pressure8. High pressure9. Local winds10. Polar easterlies11. Horse latitudes12. Trade winds13. Mountain breeze14. Valley breeze