Wind and Global Wind Patterns

Flashcards about wind, local wind patterns, and global wind patterns.

What is wind?

Movement of air parallel to Earth's surface.

How does air move in relation to pressure?

From an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure.

What creates air pressure differences that lead to wind formation?

Unequal heating of Earth's surface.

How are winds named?

Wind speed and direction from which they originate.

What does an anemometer measure?

Measures wind speed.

What does a wind vane measure?

Measures wind direction.

What are local winds?

Winds that blow over short distances and affect local weather.

What is a sea breeze?

A local wind that blows from an ocean or lake.

What is a land breeze?

The flow of air from land to a body of water.

How does a sea breeze form in the morning?

Land heats up faster than water, causing air above land to rise, and cooler air from above water rushes in.

How does a land breeze form at night?

Land cools down faster than water, so air above water rises, then cooler air above land rushes in.

What are global winds?

The pattern of winds moving around the globe or over a large area.

What are global winds affected by?

Unequal Heating and Earth's Rotation.

What is the Coriolis Effect?

The way Earth's rotation makes winds curve instead of traveling in straight lines.

What is the general pattern of global winds?

Winds move from the poles toward the equator.

How does the Coriolis Effect influence wind direction in each hemisphere?

Winds in the Northern hemisphere curve to the right, while winds in the Southern hemisphere curve to the left.

What combines to produce a pattern of calm areas and global wind belts?

Unequal heating, Coriolis effect, and other factors.

What are jet streams?

Bands of high-speed winds that blow 10 km above Earth's surface and affect local weather.

Which direction do jet streams blow?

West to East.

What is the speed of jet streams?

200-400 km/hr.

How does the position of the jet stream affect local weather?

It makes winter in the area north to the jet stream colder; If it wanders farther north than usual, it brings warmer conditions south to the jet stream.