1. Wind Definition Air movement
The movement of air caused by differences in air pressure
Warm air rises at the equator and cool air sinks at the poles
Rising air creates low pressure areas. Sinking air creates a high pressure area.
The movement of air causes large circular patterns of wind called convection cells.

2. Naming Winds
Global Winds
Winds are named from the directions they are blowing from
Movement of air within the convection cells
Polar Easterlies – From poles to 60 degrees latitude
Prevailing Westerlies – 60 degrees to 30 degrees latitude
Trade Winds – 30 degrees to 10 degrees latitude
Doldrums –10 degrees latitude to the equator. Very little wind is here because all the air is warm and rising

3. Jet Stream
A narrow belt of strong winds that blow in the upper troposphere
Can reach speeds of 400 km/h
Can affect the movement of weather, fronts, and storms around the world

4. Local Winds
Winds that move short distance and can blow from any direction
Geographic features such as shorelines or mountains that produce temperature differences can create local winds

5. Sea and Land Breezes
Mountain and Valley Breezes
During the day, land heats up faster so the air above land rises. Air over the ocean flows in to replace it. The process reverses at night.
During the day warm air rises up along the mountain slopes creating valley breezes. At night cool air sinks down the mountain slopes producing a mountain breeze