Winds
by: Elena
What is Wind
What Causes Wind
Local Winds
Sea Breezes and Land Breezes
Land Breezes occur in the evening and blow from land to sea. During the land breeze, the sea is warmer and the land is cooler. The land cools off and warms up faster than the sea.
Global Winds
Global Wind Belts
The major Global Wind Belts are the trade winds, polar easterlies, and the prevailing westerlies. Wind Belts circle the Earth. Between the Wind Belts are calm areas.
Trade Winds: Trade winds are global winds that blow from the Northern Hemisphere toward the Equator from 30 degrees north latitude. Sailor use these winds to help them move their cargo to other counties to trade stuff.
Prevailing Westerlies: These winds lie between 30 and 60 degrees and blow from the west, that is why they are called Prevailing Westerlies.
Polar Easterlies: They blow from the north to the south pole, then curve eastward.
Jet streams: They are high-speed winds that blow at the top of the troposphere. Airplanes use these winds to travel because they go faster while saving fuel!
The calm areas around Earth are the Doldrums and the Horse Latitudes.
Doldrums: These winds lie on the equator and are weak.
Horse Latitudes: These winds are at 30 degrees north and south latitude, and are weak.