Wind Adapted from www.ck12.org and

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/by Ms. Shaw

WindThe horizontal movement of air caused by differences in air pressure.

Air moves from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure.

H L

Convection currents and the rotation of the Earth cause global winds.

Coriolis effect - influence of Earth’s rotation on the winds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBaseCUhB_E&feature=youtu.be

Global Winds

Uneven heating between the equator and the poles cause the global winds.

Each wind belt is separated by calm regions.

Winds that travel long distances in steady patterns over several weeks.

Equator

Horse Latitude

Horse Latitude

Global Wind Belts

Trade Winds: Blow from east, moving from the “horse” latitudes (300) towards the equator. They die out as they get closer to the equator.

Westerlies: Blow from the west, moving from the “horse” latitudes (300) towards the poles.◦These winds affect the United

States. They move our weather from California to North Carolina.

Easterlies: Blow from the east, moving down from the poles.

Equator

Horse Latitude

Horse Latitude

High and low pressure regions created by the 6 atmospheric circulation cells determine amount of precipitation in a region. ◦Rainfall and storms are common in low pressure regions due to rising air.

◦Evaporation occurs in dry areas when air sinks in high pressure areas.

Local winds result from air moving between small low and high pressure

systems.

Precipitation Amounts

Ribbons of very strong winds which move weather systems around Earth.

Found 9-16 km above Earth’s surface, just below the tropopause, up to 200 mph.

Form large temperature differences between two air masses.

Jet Stream

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huweohIh_Bw

Watch the video