Atmospheric Pressure and Winds The heating of the Earth’s surface and atmosphere by the sun drives convection within the atmosphere and ocean. This convection produces winds and ocean currents.
Which factor causes global wind patterns?
Large global wind systems are created by the uneven heating of the Earth’s surface . These global wind systems, in turn, drive the oceans’ surface currents.
What is the major cause of global winds convection cells on Earth?
The greater the pressure difference between the pressure zones, the faster the wind blows. Warm air rises, creating a low pressure zone; cool air sinks, creating a high pressure zone. ... Air moving between large high and low pressure systems at the bases of the three major convection cells creates the global wind belts.
What are the 4 types of global winds?
The four major wind systems are the Polar and Tropical Easterlies, the Prevailing Westerlies and the Intertropical Convergence Zone . These are also wind belts. There are three other types of wind belts, also. They are called Trade Winds, Doldrums, and Horse Latitudes.
Is wind caused by Convection?
The air heats, expands and the pressure drop causes air to rise. ... In summary: Convection lowers surface pressure which creates a pressure gradient that tries to correct itself by having Air move from higher pressure to the lower pressure area created by the rising air. This correction in pressure is what we call wind.
What are the two main causes of global winds?
All wind is caused by the uneven heating of Earth’s surface , which sets convection currents in motion, Convection currents on a large scale cause global winds; convection currents on a small scale cause local winds.
What are the 5 global winds?
The Earth contains five major wind zones: polar easterlies, westerlies, horse latitudes, trade winds, and the doldrums .
Why are there 3 convection cells?
The atmosphere has six major convection cells, three in the northern hemisphere and three in the southern. Coriolis effect results in there being three convection cells per hemisphere rather than one. Winds blow at the base of the atmospheric convection cells.
What are the 3 major global wind belts?
“Between the poles and the equator, each hemisphere has three major surface wind belts: the polar easterlies , which extend from the poles to about 60 degrees latitude; the prevailing westerlies, which stretch from about 60 degrees to 35 degrees; and the trade winds, which pick up at about 30 degrees, and blow towards ...
What are the 3 global wind patterns?
The global wind belts are the three wind belts or wind patterns that cover the planet: the tropical easterlies (or the trade winds) are found near the equator, the polar easterlies are found at the north and south poles, and the prevailing westerlies are found between the two.
How do global winds affect the Earth?
Global winds are the prevailing, or usual, winds at a given latitude. The winds move air masses , which causes weather. The direction of prevailing winds determines which type of air mass usually moves over an area. For example, a west wind might bring warm moist air from over an ocean.
What causes convection?
Convection currents are the result of differential heating . Lighter (less dense), warm material rises while heavier (more dense) cool material sinks. It is this movement that creates circulation patterns known as convection currents in the atmosphere, in water, and in the mantle of Earth.
Why is it windy at the seaside convection?
The ocean heats up much slower and becomes relatively cooler than the beach making it a high pressure zone. The air moves from the water to the land each morning forming a sea breeze. These pressure zones might equal out later in the day and the winds may diminish.
What causes atmospheric convection?
Atmospheric convection is the result of a parcel-environment instability, or temperature difference layer in the atmosphere . Different lapse rates within dry and moist air masses lead to instability.
What is the main cause for global wind patterns quizlet?
What is the main cause for global wind patterns? When the temperature is hotter, there is low air pressure thats rises and expands, low density, and high humidity levels . When the temperauture is colder, there is high air pressure that sinks and compreses, more density, and low humiity levels.
Where do global winds occur?
Global Winds
Trade winds – Trade winds occur near the equator and flow from either the north or south towards the equator. They curve towards the west due to the spin of the Earth. Prevailing westerlies – In the middle latitudes of the Earth, between 35 and 65 degrees latitude, are the prevailing westerly winds.
