Questions and Answers
What causes wind?
Differences in air pressure.
Which statements describe aspects of what causes wind to blow? (Select two options)
Which statement about local and global winds is true?
What phenomenon causes your flight back to Boston to be shorter than your flight to Seattle?
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In which type of global wind was the explorer sailing when he described sitting on the Atlantic Ocean with little wind?
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Which wind belt occurs at about 5 degrees north and south of the equator?
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Which wind belt starts at the horse latitudes and moves toward the poles?
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Which winds are found primarily in the tropics?
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What path do global winds follow due to the Coriolis effect?
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Which winds blow from west to east, following the boundary between hot and cold air?
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Which is an example of a local wind?
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Which two considerations are used to calculate a windchill factor?
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What causes differences in air pressure?
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What is a land breeze?
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Which statement best describes local winds?
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What happens during a land breeze?
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Which blow over long distances?
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Which statement describes global winds?
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Which blow steadily toward the equator?
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Which blow toward the low-pressure areas of the westerlies?
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What leads to the formation of a windchill factor?
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Which causes a sea breeze?
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Which belt is a global wind belt found in the middle latitudes?
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Where do jet streams blow?
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Study Notes
Wind Formation
- Winds result from differences in air pressure, primarily caused by the uneven heating of the Earth's surface.
- Cooler areas exhibit higher air pressure, while warmer regions have lower pressure, leading to air movement from high to low pressure—this movement is perceived as wind.
Characteristics of Winds
- Wind is characterized by its direction and speed, with global winds blowing over long distances and local winds covering short distances.
- Local winds are influenced by surrounding geographical features and weather patterns, while global winds occur in larger, more stable patterns.
Types of Winds
- Local Winds: Move over short distances and can be affected by local geographic features.
- Global Winds: Travel over long distances and follow predictable patterns based on the Earth’s rotation and temperature differences.
The Coriolis Effect
- The Coriolis effect causes winds to follow a curved path due to Earth's rotation, influencing the direction of global winds.
Jet Streams
- Jet streams are narrow bands of strong winds in the upper atmosphere, blowing from west to east and following the boundaries between hot and cold air masses.
Wind Belts
- Doldrums: Found near the equator (5 degrees N and S), characterized by light winds.
- Horse Latitudes: Regions of calm winds located at around 30 degrees latitude.
- Trade Winds: Blow from east to west in the tropics.
- Prevailing Westerlies: Winds that start at the horse latitudes and move towards the poles, prevalent in the middle latitudes.
- Polar Easterlies: Winds that blow from the poles toward lower latitudes.
Sea and Land Breezes
- Sea Breezes: Occur during the day when air above land heats up faster than over water, causing cooler air over water to flow inland.
- Land Breezes: Occur at night when air above land cools faster than over water, resulting in movement of cooler air from land to sea over short distances.
Windchill Factor
- The windchill factor is calculated using wind speed and air temperature, representing how cold temperatures feel due to wind.
Global Wind Characteristics
- Global winds blow from the poles toward the equator and follow a consistent directional pattern, typically moving in a smooth arc or straight lines depending on their type.
- They are influenced by temperature differences and Earth's rotation.
Summary of Key Wind Concepts
- Movement from high pressure to low pressure creates wind.
- Local winds cover short distances while global winds span long distances.
- Temperature differences create variations in air pressure, leading to the formation of wind patterns.
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Description
Test your knowledge on wind formation, characteristics, and types. This quiz covers the distinction between local and global winds, as well as the Coriolis effect on wind movement. Understand the principles behind the dynamics of winds and their influence on weather patterns.
