Winds
Local and Global Winds
~ General Information on Winds ~
What is Wind?
How Does Wind Occur?
The difference in pressure, stated above, that moves air, creating wind, is caused by the differences in the heating of the Earth's surface. Since the warmer the air gets, the less pressure it exerts, uneven heating results in differences in air pressure.
~ Local Winds ~
Local winds are one of the two variants of wind, still convection currents, but on a smaller scale, hence the name. They are created in the same way that all winds are created, with the unequal heating of Earth's surface. Unlike global winds, local winds change speed and direction often.
Things to remember:
- Air that is warmer has a lower pressure and density, while air that is cooler has a higher pressure and density
- As a result of their densities, warmer air will rise while cooler air sinks
- Air moves from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure
Land Breezes
Sea Breezes
~ Global Winds ~
Global winds are one of the two variants of wind, still convection currents, but on a much larger scale, hence the name. They are created in the same way that all winds are created, with the unequal heating of Earth's surface. Unlike local winds, global winds blow steadily over long distances, and always in the same direction. These winds form massive convection currents from the Poles to 30 degrees N and S, and then from there to the Equator.
The Coriolis Effect:
The Earth rotates from west to east, and the global winds are affected, blowing to the east instead of blowing strait.