Introduction to Wind and Atmospheric Circulation

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to wind, atmospheric pressure, and atmospheric circulation.

Wind

The horizontal movement of air across the Earth's surface.

Pressure Gradient

The difference in air pressure between high and low pressure areas; drives wind formation.

Coriolis Effect

The apparent deflection of moving air (or water) caused by the rotation of the Earth.

Friction

The force that slows winds down near the Earth's surface and modifies wind direction.

Isobars

Lines on a weather map connecting points with equal atmospheric pressure.

High Pressure

An area where air is pressing down more than surrounding areas, leading to sinking air and typically clear skies.

Low Pressure

An area where air is rising, generally associated with cloud formation and stormy weather.

Prevailing Winds

Winds that blow predominantly from a single general direction over a particular region.

Easterly Wind

A wind that blows from the east to the west.

Westerly Wind

A wind that blows from the west to the east.

Convection

The process of heat transfer in fluids (liquids and gases) where warmer portions rise and cooler portions sink.

Advection

The horizontal transfer of heat or matter by the movement of a fluid, especially air.

Millibar

A unit of measure for atmospheric pressure.

Sinking Air

Air that descends toward the Earth's surface, associated with high pressure conditions.

Rising Air

Air that ascends away from the Earth's surface, associated with low pressure conditions.

Cyclonic Rotation

Counterclockwise rotation of air around a low pressure center in the Northern Hemisphere.

Anticyclonic Rotation

Clockwise rotation of air around a high pressure center in the Northern Hemisphere.

Local Winds

Winds that occur on a smaller scale due to local temperature differences.

Global Wind Patterns

The large scale patterns of wind that circulate around the Earth, notably influenced by the Coriolis effect.