WINDS
What I learned about winds
What is Wind?
Wind is caused by the unequal heating of earth's surface and differences in air pressure. It is measured by its speed and direction using an anemometer to measure the wind speed, and a wind vane to measure the wind direction.
Local Winds
Local Winds are types of winds that blow over a short distance. Such an example is a cool breeze blowing in from the water over a beach. They are caused by the unequal heating of earth's surface within a small area. Sea breezes and Land breezes are types of local winds.
Sea Breeze (Local Wind)
A Sea breeze is a type of local wind that blows from the ocean to the land. These usually happen during the day. The picture below is a diagram of a sea breeze.
Land Breezes (Local Winds)
A land breeze is a local wind that blows from the land to the ocean. The opposite of a sea breeze. Land breezes usually happen at night.
Global Winds
A Global Wind is a wind that blows steadily over long distances. A global wind blows from the same direction every time. Earth rotates from east to west. Earth's rotation makes global winds curve. The way that winds curve is called the Coriolis Effect. They form when temperature differences between the equator and the poles produce giant convection currents in the atmosphere.
Global Winds Belts
The major global wind belts are the trade winds, the polar easterlies, and the prevailing westerlies.
Trade Winds
Trade winds are global winds that blow in the Northern Hemisphere toward the equator from 30 degrees north latitude.
Prevailing Westerlies
Prevailing Westerlies are winds that blow from west to east between 30 degrees and 60 degrees latitude in both hemispheres.
Polar Easterlies
The Polar Easterlies blow from the poles and curve eastward.
Horse Latitudes
The horse latitudes are the calm areas between the trade winds and the prevailing westerlies at 30 degrees latitude in both hemispheres. They are one of the two calm areas around earth including the Doldrums at the equator.