Download Global and Local Wind Patterns-19tt8yw

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Why does Air Move ?
What is the Coriolis effect ?
What are global winds ?
What are local winds ? Describe the
formation of land and sea breezes
Why does Air Move ?
• The movement of air
caused by differences in
air pressure is called
• Differences in air pressure
is caused by unequal
heating of the earth
• Air at the equator is
warmer and less dense so
it rises creating an area of
• At the poles, the air is
colder and more dense so
it sinks creating areas of
– This cold polar air then
flows towards the equator
What is the Coriolis Effect ?
• The apparent curving of
the path of winds and
ocean currents due to
earth’s rotation is called
the
• Because of the coriolis
effect, in the Northern
Hemisphere winds
traveling north curve east
( clockwise) and winds
traveling south curve
west ( counterclockwise)
– Flipped in the Southern
Hemisphere
What are global winds ?
• The unequal heating of Earth’s atmosphere by
sunlight produces global winds.
• The combination of high-pressure polar air +
low-pressure equatorial air, and the coriolis effect
produce global winds.
• The angle at which sunshine strikes Earth’s
surface in MAINLY responsible for the unequal
heating of Earth’s surface.
Local Winds
generally move short distances
and can blow from any direction
• They are affected by the geographical features
of an area, which can produce temperature
differences that cause local winds
Land and Sea Breezes
Quick Check
What combination creates global winds?
a. low-pressure polar air and low-pressure
equatorial air.
b. low-pressure polar air and high-pressure
equatorial air
c. high-pressure polar air and high-pressure
equatorial air
d. high-pressure polar air and low pressure
equatorial air
Quick Check
What makes global winds curve rather than
move in straight lines?
a. differences in air pressure
b. differences in density
c. differences in temperature
d.Earth’s rotation on its axis
Quick Check
Which combination of properties describes cold
air?
a. high density and low pressure
b. low density and low pressure
c. high density and high pressure
d. low density and high pressure
Quick Check
Global winds blow
a. now and then in unpredictable directions.
b. now and then in predictable directions
c. almost constantly in unpredictable
directions
d. almost constantly in predictable directions
Quick Check
Which combination of properties describes
warm air?
a. low pressure and low density
b. low pressure sand high density
c. high pressure and high density
d. high pressure and low density
Quick Check
Differences in air pressure is called
a. a tide.
b. a current.
c. winds.
d. waves.
Quick Check
Compared to warm air, cool air is
a. less dense and has a higher pressure.
b. more dense and has a higher pressure.
c. more dense and has a lower pressure.
d. less dense and has a lower pressure.
Quick Check
Why does warm air rise and cold air sink?
a. because warm air is less dense than cold air
b. because warm air is denser than cold air
c. because cold air is less dense than warm air
d. because warm air has less pressure than
cold air does
Quick Check
In which wind belt is most of the United States
located?
a. northeast trade winds
b. southeast trade winds.
c. westerlies
d. doldrums