Local Winds Quiz and Flashcards: Understanding Weather Patterns

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Questions and Answers

What is the main cause of wind according to the text?

The rotation of the Earth

Global warming

Uneven heating of the Earth (correct)

Atmospheric pollution

How wide are local winds typically considered, based on the text?

Tens to hundredths of miles (correct)

Hundreds of miles

Thousands of miles

Millions of miles

What is the relationship between the tilt of the Earth's axis and global wind belts?

Global warming influences the tilt which in turn affects wind patterns

The Earth's axis has no impact on wind patterns

The tilt causes local winds but not global wind belts

Uneven heating due to the tilt leads to global wind belts (correct)

How do sailors historically utilize global wind belts according to the text?

To travel through oceans Signup and view all the answers

What plays a significant role in creating local winds based on the text?

Heating of the earth and land barriers Signup and view all the answers

What is the main reason for the air pressure decreasing in an area when air near the Earth's surface is heated?

Warm air is denser than cool air. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between air pressure and density?

Inversely proportional Signup and view all the answers

Why does a sea breeze occur during the day along the coast?

The land cools down quicker than the water. Signup and view all the answers

What causes a valley breeze to occur during the day?

Cool air from the mountain falling Signup and view all the answers

Why are milder temperatures observed along the coast during different seasons?

Water takes longer to heat up and cool down. Signup and view all the answers

Why does the valley breeze occur during the day?

Due to the mountain air cooling down faster than the valley air. Signup and view all the answers

What causes mountain breezes to flow from the mountain to the valley at night?

High-pressure area created by cool air over the mountain. Signup and view all the answers

Why do Santa Ana winds in California lead to massive wildfires?

They bring warm, dry air over the region during winter. Signup and view all the answers

How are Monsoons different from sea breezes and land breezes?

Monsoons can change direction seasonally. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes Katabatic winds from other local winds like Santa Ana winds?

Katabatic winds move down mountains due to gravity. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Causes of Wind

The main cause of wind is the uneven heating of the Earth's surface by the sun.

Local Winds

Local winds are typically considered to be less than 1,000 km (620 miles) in width.
Topography, such as mountains and valleys, plays a significant role in creating local winds.
The uneven heating of the Earth's surface also contributes to the formation of local winds.

Global Wind Belts

The tilt of the Earth's axis is responsible for the creation of global wind belts.
Sailors historically utilize global wind belts to navigate across the oceans.

Air Pressure and Temperature

When air near the Earth's surface is heated, air pressure decreases due to the expansion of air.
Air pressure and density are inversely proportional, meaning that as air pressure increases, air density decreases.

Sea Breezes

A sea breeze occurs during the day along the coast because the land heats up faster than the sea, causing air to rise and create a pressure gradient.
This pressure gradient pulls in cooler air from the sea, creating a breeze.

Valley and Mountain Breezes

A valley breeze occurs during the day when the valley is heated, causing air to rise and create a pressure gradient.
At night, mountain breezes flow from the mountain to the valley as the mountain cools, causing air to sink and create a pressure gradient.
Milder temperatures are observed along the coast during different seasons due to the moderating effect of the sea.

Santa Ana Winds

Santa Ana winds in California lead to massive wildfires due to their hot, dry, and gusty nature.

Monsoons

Monsoons are different from sea breezes and land breezes because they are large-scale wind patterns that occur over a larger area and are driven by the uneven heating of the Earth's surface.

Katabatic Winds

Katabatic winds are distinguished from other local winds like Santa Ana winds because they are cold, dense winds that flow downhill from high elevations to lower elevations.

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Description

Explore the concept of local winds and how differences in air pressure cause the wind to blow. Learn about the characteristics of local winds, which flow over smaller areas of the Earth compared to global winds.