1. Wind Notes:

2. Remember … Air has mass and takes up space.
Air pressure – the mass of the air being pulled down on an area of the earth’s surface.
It pushes in all directions - it does not crush objects

3. Factors that affect Air Pressure:
Temperature
The amount of air above it
How fast it is moving

4. Wind:
Horizontal movement of air (fluid) from an area of high pressure to low pressure
Low Pressure
High Pressure

5. example A to B movement= NO ENERGY (wind)
B to A movement= ENERGY (fan) B

6. 1) The greater the pressure difference, (temp difference)
Wind facts:
1) The greater the pressure difference, (temp difference)
The greater the WIND!
2) Described by original direction and speed
ex: Northeastern wind at 50mph

7. Measurement of Wind: Wind vane- measures wind direction 2) Anemometer:
measures wind speed
3) Wind-chill factor: increased cooling caused by the wind
* cool breeze blowing by skin
removes heat

8. 2)Planetary (or Global) Winds
Two Types:
Local Winds
2)Planetary (or Global) Winds

9. Local Wind: effect small areas (beach, lake) 1) SEA BREEZEP P
land
water
Blue = Cool
Red = Warm

10. Air above land heats faster
SEA BREEZE
* Land heats faster than the water
Air above land heats faster
Warm air rises creating LOWER pressure over land
High Pressure over water
COOL air moves TOWARD LAND= CLOCKWISE

11. 2).Land Breeze P P
land
water

12. Land cools faster than water Pattern of circulation is reversed
LAND BREEZE
Land cools faster than water
Pattern of circulation is reversed
Air moves toward water
COUNTERCLOCKWISE

13. Coriolis Force/Effect:
Due to Earth’s rotation,
Winds in Northern Hemisphere curve to the RIGHT = CLOCKWISE
Winds in Southern Hemisphere curve to
The LEFT= COUNTERCLOCKWISE NH
equator SH

14. PLANETARY/GLOBAL WINDS
*Caused by: Uneven heating of
Earth’s surface
*Warm air rises at the equator and
*Cold air sinks at the poles

15. Major Wind Systems
1) Trade Winds:- steady winds blowing to the southwest. Ships used them (“traders”) to travel with goods.
2) Prevailing Westerlies:-blow from southwest to northeast. Moves WEATHER
across the United States and Canada

16. 3) Polar Easterlies:-
due to the Coriolis effect,
winds at North pole rotate clockwise. Winds at the South pole rotate counterclockwise
4) Jet Stream:- fast moving streams of air
higher than other wind systems.
Narrow and Strong
Pilots use them

17. 5) Doldrums:- windless zone at the equator. (remember CONVECTION)
6) Horse Latitudes:- windless zone at
30 North and 30 south latitudes
(Tropic of Cancer/Tropic of Capricorn)

18. Diagram of winds