Wind Notes 2012

Wind The HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT of air. Caused by Differences in TEMPERATURE and PRESSURE

Warm Air

Cold Air

DIFFERENCES IN PRESSURE   DIFFERENCES IN PRESSURE Rising air creates: LOW PRESSURE If air is lifted up, that means there is Less air pushing down on earth. Sinking air creates: HIGH PRESSURE If air is sinking, then air is pushing down on the surface of earth with a High amount of pressure.

THE CREATION OF WIND Differences in temperature cause air to rise and sink all over earth’s surface. Rising and sinking air create high and low pressure. THE ATMOSPHERE DOES NOT LIKE UNBALANCED PRESSURE... IT TRYS TO EQUAL OUT BY MOVING AIR FROM High to Low PRESSURE. H L

Types of Wind: SEA BREEZE Air moves from the Sea. Occurs during the day. During the day, air over the sea is cool. The cool air is more dense, sinks, and forms high pressure.   During the day, the land heats up and air above it becomes less dense and rises. Rising air creates low

Types of Wind: LAND BREEZE Air moves from the Land Occurs during the night. During the night, the land cools quickly and the dense air above it begins to sink creating high pressure. During the night, the sea stays warm and the less dense warm air above it rises creating low pressure.

Warm air rises and cold air sinks. Global Winds Wind current on a global scale. Warm air rises and cold air sinks. Temperature Differences Rising and sinking air makes pressure differences Pressure Difference Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom

Global Temperature Patterns The sun’s rays are weaker near the poles causing less warming. The air here is cool. The sun’s rays are stronger near the equator causing more warming. The air here is warm. Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom

Air moves between the equator and the poles. Global Winds Hadley Cells. Air moves between the equator and the poles. Global Winds Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom

The Coriolis Effect Coriolis Effect Air does not move in a straight line because of Earth’s rotation. Coriolis Effect Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom

Global Winds Northern Hemisphere Southern Hemisphere Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom

Global Winds Remember, winds are named from where they come. 60°N 30°N Polar Easterlies - From 90°N to 60°N - Deflected to right 60°N Prevailing Westerlies - From 30°N to 60°N - Deflected to right 30°N Easterly Trade Winds - From 30°N to O° - Deflected to right Doldrums 0° Easterly Trade Winds - From 30°S to 0° - Deflected to left 30°S Prevailing Westerlies - From 30°S to 60°S - Deflected to left 60°S Polar Easterlies - From 90°S to 60°S - Deflected to left Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom