Weather Notes Part 3

How Winds Form

What causes wind? When warm air rises and cooler air moves in to replace it. OR When an area of high pressure replaces an area of low pressure

How are winds named? By the direction they blow FROM For example Polar Easterlies come from the east; A northerly wind comes from the north… Winds blowing from the East Winds blowing from the West

Air begins to cool because of altitude Cool air is more dense and sinks Warm air over water rises Cool air from land replaces risen air Land Breeze

Sea Breeze Air begins to cool because of altitude Warm air rises Cool air is more dense and sinks Sun heats air near ground Cool air from sea replaces risen air Sea Breeze

GLOBAL WINDS A wind that covers a large area and blows in a specific direction.

Describe the major global wind belts . Trade winds are caused as the warm air near the equator rises and cool air moves into replace it. They are easterly winds. Westerlies are created by sinking air moving toward the poles. They are southwest winds. Polar Easterlies are created at the poles by sinking cold air. They come from an easterly direction

What is the Coriolis effect? The apparent deflection of winds due to the Earth’s rotation Objects in the Northern Hemisphere are deflected to the right of their initial direction. Objects in the Southern Hemisphere are deflected to the left.

MEASURING WINDS Anemometer- measures wind speed Wind Vane- measures wind direction