~Winds~
-Local Winds and Global Winds-
Winds
What Is Wind?
Wind is just air that moves around from areas of high pressure to areas of low air pressure, or where there is unequal heating of the Earth's surface . You measure wind speed with a instrument called an anemometer, an anemometer has three-four cups that spin on a pole! Wind could be a simple breeze or even a big storm, wind blows the trees and flowers.
Winds Swaying Trees!
Strong Winds Can Lift People!
Wind Clouds!
What Causes Winds?
Winds don't just randomly appear, they are caused by something. Winds are caused by the different amount of air pressure, or whether the pressure is high or low.
Local Winds
What Are Local Winds?
Local Winds are winds that move across small areas. They blow low in the atmosphere and change direction and speed often.
What Causes Local Winds?
Local Winds are caused by differences in air pressure, or whether the air pressure is high or low. Unequal heating in the air also causes Local Winds.
Sea Breezes
Sea breezes are winds that blow from the ocean/sea/lake towards the land. These happen during the day. With sea breezes the warm air rises off from the land and the cool air from the sea moves beneath warm air.
Sea and Land Breezes
Land Breezes
Land breezes are winds that blow from the land towards a body of water. These happen during the night. With land breezes the warm air rises off the sea and the cool air from the land moves beneath the warm air.
Global Winds
What Are Global Winds?
Global Winds are winds that blow from specific directions over long distances. They blow very steadily.
What Causes Global Winds?
Global Winds are caused by unequal heating, just like local winds. They blow the same direction every time.
Convection Currents In Global Winds?
That's right! Convection currents are featured in the cause of global winds. Temperature differences between the equator and the poles produce giant convection currents in the atmosphere. Warm air rises at the equator and cold air sinks at the poles. The difference in pressure causes winds at Earth's surface to blow from the poles toward the equator. The air movements produce global winds!
Doldrums
Doldrums are very weak winds that are at the equator (0 latitude)
Trade Winds
Trade Winds are winds that lie between 0 and 30 latitude and are very strong. They are very good for sailors because they are great for trading, notice the 'trade' in trade winds.
Prevailing Westerlies
Prevailing Westerlies are winds that lie between 30 and 60 north and south latitude from the west and blow to the east. Winds are always named by what direction they come from, that's why Prevailing Westerlies have 'West' in them.
Prevailing Easterlies
Prevailing Easterlies blow from the north and south pole. Prevailing Easterlies and Prevailing Westerlies meet up at 60 north and 60 south latitudes, along a region called the polar front. The mixing of warm and cold air along the polar front has a major affect on the U.S weather.
Polar Easterlies
Polar Easterlies and Westerlies and Trade Winds
Polar Westerlies
Winds Wrap-Up
Thank for reading and learning more about...
- Winds
- Local Winds
- Sea breezes and land breezes
- Global Winds
- Doldrums
- Trade Winds
- Prevailing Easterlies
- Prevailing Westerlies