Global Winds
Winds that blow from about 30° latitude toward the equator in both hemispheres are called:
Trade Winds
What provides the main energy that causes air to move in Earth’s atmosphere?
The Sun
Areas with sinking air usually have:
High Pressure
During the day, air over land is usually warmer or colder than air over water:
Warmer
Explain how dust from a desert could travel to another continent.
Strong winds can carry dust high into the atmosphere, where global wind patterns move it long distances
Winds are named based on the direction they blow from. If a wind is called a “westerly,” it blows from the:
West
Uneven heating of Earth’s surface causes air to:
Circulate
When air particles are closer together, the air pressure is:
Higher
If wind is blowing from east to west, air pressure is higher in the West or East:
Higher in the East
Describe the relationship between air temperature and air density.
Warm air is less dense and rises; cool air is more dense and sinks.
Which wind belt is found near the equator and is known for calm or weak winds?
Doldrums
Warm air usually:
Rises and causes low pressure
Which statement correctly describes air density and pressure?
A. Low density air creates high pressure
B. Density and pressure are not related
C. High density air creates higher pressure
D. Pressure only depends on temperature
Local winds are mainly caused by:
Differences in air pressure
Explain why the equator is a low-pressure area.
The sun heats the air strongly at the equator, causing warm air to rise and create low pressure.
Why are the trade winds important?
They move air from high pressure to low pressure
Why does air rise near the equator?
Air is heated strongly by the sun
Air pressure is caused by:
Gravity pulling on air molecules
Why does wind always blow from high pressure to low pressure?
Air moves to balance pressure differences in the atmosphere.
A picture shows warm land next to cool water. Predict the wind direction and explain why.
Wind blows from water to land because cooler air over water has higher pressure than warm air over land.
Which global wind belt is found between 30° and 60° latitude and generally blows from west to east?
Westerlies
Why does uneven heating of Earth’s surface create convection currents in the atmosphere?
Warm air rises and cool air sinks
Which situation would most likely cause air pressure to increase in an area?
Air cooling and becoming more dense
At night, land cools faster than water. How does this affect wind direction near a coast?
Wind blows from land to water
Explain why mountaintops are usually colder than nearby valleys.
Air pressure and density decrease with altitude, causing air to cool as it rises, making higher elevations colder.