WindsGlobal Winds

WindsGlobal Winds

Chapter 16 Section 3

Pages 536-544

Chapter 16 Section 3

Pages 536-544

Global Winds

• Winds that blow steadily from specific directions over long distances.

• Caused by unequal heating of the surface.

Global Winds

Global Winds

Coriolis Effect

• The way Earth’s rotation makes winds curve.– Winds want to move in a straight line but

the earth rotates under them, making it seem as though the wind curved.

Coriolis Effect

• Northern Hemisphere- Earth rotates counter clock wise– All winds curve

to the right.

Coriolis Effect

• Southern Hemisphere- Earth rotates clock wise– All winds curve

to the left.

Doldrums• At the equator.

• Area of Low Pressure– Rising Air

• Calm Winds

Horse Latitudes• 30°N and 30°S

• Area of high pressure– Sinking air

• Calm Winds– Sailors would get

trapped and run out of food and water, they threw their horses overboard.

Trade Winds• Between the

– Equator and 30°N.– Equator and 30°S

• Steady easterly winds.

• Sailors relied on them to carry goods from Europe to West Indies and S. America.

Prevailing Westerlies• Mid-latitude winds

– 30°N-60°N– 30°S-60°S

• Blow from west to east.

• Important to our weather.

• Blow away from the horse latitudes.

Polar Easterlies• Between

– 60°N and 90°N– 60°S and 90°S

• Cold air from the poles sinks and flows south away from the pole.

• Blows east to west.

• Cold Winds

Jet Stream• 10km above the

Earth’s surface.

• Bands of high speed winds.– 200-400km/hr

• Blow from west to east.

• They wander north and south.