Coriolis Effect Because the Earth rotates, and consists of a mixture of land and sea, the Coriolis Effect exists The Coriolis Effect is the movement of particles (such as air) to the right in the Northern Hemisphere How about the South? They move to the left

Coriolis Effect

Global Winds Global wind patterns are caused by: Coriolis Effect The land and sea makeup of Earth

Remember! Wind gets its name from the direction it is blowing FROM!

Northern Wind Patterns Polar Easterlies 90 – 60 latitude from the east Prevailing Westerlies 60 – 30 latitude from the west Trade winds 30 – 0 latitude from the East

Latitude Nicknames Horse Latitudes 30 latitude Named because the boats stalled and the horses had to go! Doldrums / Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) Equator Trade winds converge from north and south Named because boats also got stranded here

Jet Streams Jet Streams form at latitudes where wind systems come together High speed westerly winds form high above the surface

El niño Every 3-7 years warms currents from Australia heat the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Central/South America Results in warmer & wetter weather along Pacific coast and across southern US Fewer hurricanes El nino Forecast

La niña Opposite of El niño in the cycle resulting in colder Pacific waters off coast of Central/South America Dryer and colder conditions along pacific coast More hurricanes in Atlantic

Tornados Form within a severe thunderstorm that may have become a ‘supercell’

Tornado Doppler RADAR ID them based on inflows (hook echo) and wind circulations

Tornado Doppler RADAR ID them based on inflows (hook echo) and wind circulations Moore Ok 5/3/99NC Moore Ok 5/3/99NC

Hurricanes Whirling tropical cyclones with high wind speeds Need heat and moisture to form Energy comes from rapid water condensation Generate huge waves at sea and large storm surges on the coast Pose great flood risks Classified as hurricane at 74 mph wind speed

Hurricanes Eye of the Storm