Winds/Air Pressure Exam Review

How does the Coriolis effect manipulate winds in Michigan?

Winds will turn to the right in the northern hemisphere.

Winds tend to blow from ______ pressure to ______ pressure.

high, low

Why do the major winds not blow in straight lines?

Coriolis effect

What major wind belt effects our climate the most?

Westerlies

What conditions are associated with the convergence of the trade winds?

Hot/Wet, Inter-tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)

How does the strength of the Coriolis effect change at different latitudes?

The closer you get to the equator the weaker the Coriolis effect is. The closer to the poles you get the stronger the Coriolis effect is.

What change does El Nino bring to the temperatures of the West coast of South America?

El Nino brings warm surface water back from the Western Pacific Ocean, so it warms the temperatures up.

What causes wind? What determines wind speed?

Wind is caused by differences in air pressure. The wind speed is determined by the pressure gradient. The larger the pressure difference the faster the wind.

Describe the climate conditions (temperature and moisture) on the windward side of mountains. Describe the climate conditions (temperature and moisture) on the leeward side of mountains.

Windward side= cool/wet/clouds

Leeward side= warmer/dry/no clouds

What happens to air pressure as air moves vertically?

Air pressure decreases as air moves vertically, because there is less air above it pushing down creating air pressure.Air pressure decreases as air moves vertically, because there is less air above it pushing down creating air pressure.

What happens to temperature as air rises in the atmosphere?

Temperature will decrease, because air is expanding.

What is adiabatic cooling?

Because the air expands as it rises it will cool.