-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-Winds
Local and Global Winds
General Information About Wind
What is Wind?
Wind is the sideways movement of air. The air always moves from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure.
What Causes Wind?
Wind is caused by the differences in air pressure that are caused by differences in how places are heated by the sun. Warm air has less pressure than cooler air.
Information on Local Winds
What are Local Winds?
Local Winds are winds that blow over a short distance. A cool breeze blowing in from the water over a beach is an example of a local wind.
How are Local Winds Created?
Local Winds are created by unequal heating of the land and the water.
Sea Breeze
What is a Sea Breeze, and How Does it Blow?
A Sea Breeze is a local wind that blows from an ocean. A lake breeze is a local wind that blows from a lake. A Sea Breeze usually happens during the day.
Land Breeze
What is a Land Breeze, and How Does it Blow?
A Land Breeze is a local wind that blows from the land over a lake or ocean. A land breeze usually happens at night.
Sea Breeze and Land Breeze Pictures
Information on Global Winds
What are Global Winds?
A global wind is a wind that blows steadily over long distances. A global wind blows from the same direction every time.
How are Global Winds Created?
Global Winds are created by the sun heating the Earth unequally. For example, the sun shines directly over the equator. The sun shines at an angle over the poles.
Horse Latitudes
What are Horse Latitudes?
Horse Latitudes - these winds are at 30 degrees north and south latitude, and are very weak.
Other Types of Global Winds
Trade Winds
Trade Winds are winds that lie between 0 degrees and 30 degrees latitude and are very strong. Sailors used these winds to help them move their cargo to other countries to trade goods.
Prevailing Westerlies
Prevailing Westerlies are winds that lie between 30 degrees and 60 degrees north and south latitude and blow from the west.
Polar Easterlies
Polar Easterlies are winds that blow from the north and south pole.