Wind Maps

Wind maps (a) Based on the diagrams describe the seasonal changes in wind patterns between January and July at location 1

In January winds blow from the north (from land toward the ocean). In July they reverse and blow from the southwest (from the ocean toward land) as a monsoon

Wind maps (b) Explain why location 5 has more hours of daylight in December than location 2

Earth's 23.5 degree tilt points the Southern Hemisphere toward the sun in December. Location 5 is at a higher southern latitude so it gets longer days

Wind maps (c) Explain how the seasonal wind direction could affect local weather at location 1

In July onshore winds bring moist air and heavy rain (monsoon). In January offshore winds from the continent bring cooler drier air and a dry season

Wind maps (d) Southern Hemisphere winds blow from the south toward the equator. Identify the direction they are deflected and explain why

They are deflected west (to the left) by the Coriolis effect. Earth rotates faster at the equator than at higher latitudes so air moving toward the equator lags behind the surface

Wind maps (e) Every few years the winds over the Pacific weaken or reverse. Describe the typical weather change along the northwestern coast of South America

Warm water shifts toward the coast and upwelling drops so the coast gets much more rain and major flooding

Wind maps (f) Describe one economic problem that results from the weather change in part (e)

Flooding spreads diseases like malaria and dengue which raises healthcare costs and lowers productivity because sick people cannot work. Another example is the anchovy fishery collapsing

Mountain (g) Identify one characteristic of the expected climate on a mountain slope when prevailing winds carry ocean air up the mountain and over the other side

The windward side is cool and wet since the air rises and cools and drops rain. The leeward side is dry (rain shadow)

Wind turbines (h) Turbines with different blade lengths were compared at the same location with the same wind direction and speed. Identify one other variable held constant

Tower height (number of blades or blade material also work)

Wind turbines (i) Identify a reasonable hypothesis for the blade length investigation

If blade length increases then the amount of electricity generated will increase

Wind turbines (j) Identify the independent variable for the blade length investigation

Blade length