Understanding Wind and Global Winds

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Questions and Answers

What causes wind to move from one area to another?

  • Wind speeds
  • Humidity levels
  • Air pressure differences (correct)
  • Temperature differences (correct)

What are global winds?

Wind belts that circle the Earth.

What are prevailing winds?

Steady, predictable winds.

Westerlies blow from the east to the west.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the speed that jet streams can reach?

<p>300 km/h (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do local winds differ from global winds?

<p>Local winds occur over short distances.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The wind that blows from a sea to land is called a _____ breeze.

<p>sea</p> Signup and view all the answers

The wind that blows from land to a sea is called a _____ breeze.

<p>land</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is primarily responsible for the formation of sea breezes?

<p>Temperature differences (A), Pressure differences (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Wind

  • Movement of air from high pressure areas to low pressure areas.
  • Caused by the sun's heat creating temperature differences.
  • Cold air indicates high pressure and sinks; warm air indicates low pressure and rises.

Global Winds

  • Wind belts that encircle the Earth.
  • Occur due to unequal heating of the Earth's surface.
  • Create convection currents influenced by temperature and pressure differences between the equator and poles.

Prevailing Winds

  • Steady, predictable winds caused by air pressure differences and the Coriolis Effect.
  • Prevailing westerlies blow from west to east in mid-latitudes (30° to 60° north and south).
  • Important for influencing weather patterns in the U.S.

Westerlies

  • Winds blowing from the west to the east.
  • Significant impact on U.S. weather.

Jet Streams

  • Narrow bands of high winds located near the top of the troposphere.
  • Flow predominantly from west to east but can loop north and south.
  • Influence weather by moving cold air from poles to tropics and warm air from tropics to poles.
  • Can reach speeds up to 300 km/h and are less predictable than prevailing winds.

Local Winds

  • Occur over short distances due to varying air pressure from uneven heating.
  • Include sea breezes and land breezes.

Sea Breeze

  • Winds flowing from sea or lake to land due to local temperature differences.
  • Land heats faster than water, causing warm air over land to rise and create low pressure.
  • Cooler, denser air over water produces high pressure, resulting in wind moving from sea to land.

Land Breeze

  • Winds flowing from land to sea or lake at night due to temperature differences.
  • Land cools faster than water, resulting in cooler, denser air over land creating high pressure.
  • Warmer air over water rises, creating low pressure and causing wind to move from land to water.

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