Global Wind Patterns

Global Wind Patterns Ryder Vasquez 2023 Name: ________________________________________ Period: ____ Date: _______ Essential Question: How do I describe the global wind patterns? The region of Earth receiving the Sun's direct rays is the equator. Here, air is heated and rises, leaving low pressure areas behind. Moving to about thirty degrees north and south of the equator, the warm air from the equator begins to cool and sink. Between thirty degrees latitude and the equator, most of the cooling sinking air moves back to the equator. The rest of the air flows toward the poles. The air movements toward the equator are called trade winds- warm, steady breezes that blow almost continuously. The Coriolis Effect makes the trade winds appear to be curving to the west, whether they are traveling to the equator from the south or north. The Coriolis effect is the apparent curvature of global winds, ocean currents, and everything else that moves freely across the Earth’s surface. The curvature is due to the rotation of the Earth on its axis. The effect was discovered by the nineteenth century French engineer Gaspard C. Coriolis. The trade winds coming from the south and the north meet near the equator called the Intertropical Convergence Zone or ITCZ. These converging trade winds produce general upward winds as they are heated, so there are no steady surface winds. This area of calmness and almost windless is called the doldrums. Sailors in the early years used to get stranded in this region. Between thirty and sixty degrees latitude, the winds that move toward the poles appear to curve to the east. Because winds are named from the direction in which they originate, these winds are called prevailing westerlies. Prevailing westerlies in the Northern Hemisphere are responsible for many of the weather movements across the United States and Canada. At about sixty degrees latitude in both hemispheres, the prevailing westerlies join with polar easterlies to reduce upward motion. The polar easterlies form when the atmosphere over the poles cools. This cool air then sinks and spreads over the surface. As the air flows away from the poles, it is turned to the west by the Coriolis effect. Again, because these winds begin in the east, they are called easterlies. Clarifying Questions: 1. What region of Earth receives direct sunlight? The region of Earth that receives direct sunlight is the equator. _____________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Describe the air in the equator? The air in the equator is warm, humid, and rises due to its low pressure. _____________________________________________________________________________________ 3. What are Trade winds? Trade winds are steady winds that blow towards the equator from the northeast in the Northern Hemisphere and _____________________________________________________________________________________ from the southeast in the Southern Hemisphere. _____________________________________________________________________________________ 4. How are Trade winds affected by the Coriolis effect? Trade winds are deflected by the Coriolis effect, causing them to curve to the west in both hemispheres. _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ 5. What causes the Coriolis Effect? The Coriolis Effect is caused by the rotation of the Earth on its axis. _____________________________________________________________________________________ 6. Where do the Northeast and Southeast Trade winds meet? The Northeast and Southeast Trade winds meet at the equator, forming a zone of low pressure known as the doldrums. _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ 7. Describe doldrums. Doldrums are areas near the equator with calm or light variable winds. ____________________________________________________________________________________ 8. Why did the early sailors get stranded in doldrums region? Think! Early sailors got stranded in the doldrums region because of the lack of consistent winds needed to propel their ships. _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ 9. Why do the winds curve to the East between 30-60 degrees? Think! Clue: Earth rotates on its axis. The winds curve to the East between 30-60 degrees due to the Coriolis Effect, which deflects them to the right in _____________________________________________________________________________________ the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. _____________________________________________________________________________________ 10. What is the direction of the winds between 30-60 degrees? Remember: Wind is described where it The winds between 30-60 degrees are called the Prevailing Westerlies. comes from. __________________________________________________________________________ 11. What type of global wind is mainly responsible for the weather in the United States and Canada? The Prevailing Westerlies are mainly responsible for the weather in the United States and Canada. _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ 11. Describe the Polar easterlies. The Polar Easterlies are cold winds blowing from the polar high-pressure areas toward the subpolar low-pressure areas ___________________________________________________________________________________ 12. How are the Polar easterlies affected by the Coriolis Effect? The Polar easterlies are cold winds that blow from the poles towards the mid-latitudes. _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ 13. Why are Polar Global winds called Polar Easterlies? Think! The Polar Easterlies are called so because they originate from the polar regions and blow towards the east. _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ 14. Describe the movement of air from the equator and poles. ( Use the chart) Air moves from the equator towards the poles in the upper atmosphere and from the poles towards the equator in _____________________________________________________________________________________ the lower atmosphere. _____________________________________________________________________________________ 15. Describe Hadley cells. ( Use the chart) Observe and think! Hadley cells are large-scale atmospheric convection cells that circulate air between the equator and _____________________________________________________________________________________ the subtropical regions. _____________________________________________________________________________________ 16. Why is the wind on Earth not blowing straight? Think! The wind on Earth does not blow straight due to the Coriolis Effect, which deflects it sideways. _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ 17. Identify the type of Global wind. ( Trade Winds, Prevailing Westerlies, Polar Easterlies) Identify the type of Global wind: Trade Winds, Prevailing Westerlies, Polar Easterlies. - This seems like a request for identification rather than a question, but based on the context, the answer would depend on the specific location or scenario provided.