Wind Systems and Patterns
Morgan Rodgers, Derek Morgan, Shavonda Shaw
1. How do land and sea breezes occur
Land and sea breezes are basically caused by a differential heating of land and sea during the day and night, creating differences in local air pressure, thus inducing winds to blow in different directions. During the day when the sun heats up the earth’s surface, the land heats up much faster than the sea. Warm air above the land expands and the air rises. This creates a region of local low pressure... A sea breeze on the other hand remains comparatively cool and is a region of high pressure. A sea breeze thus blows in from the sea to the land. This is a gentle breeze, best explained along costal districts in the tropics. At night the reverse takes place as the land cools down much faster than the sea the cooler and denser air on the land creates a region of local high pressure. The se on the other hand conserves its heat and is relatively warmer than the land. The air over the sea expands and rises creating a region of local low pressure. A land breeze thus blows out from the land to the sea.
2. What is the Coriolis Effect and what effect does it have on onjects on earth
This is the effect when the earth rotates and it causes the winds to not just travel strait but makes them curve around the earth. And due to the rotation of the earth objects deflect to the right in the northern hemisphere. Then due to the earths objects in the southern hemisphere the wind deflects to the left. Finally the wind patterns on earth don’t just go strait the curve
3. What are the major wind systems called and where are they located
The major wind systems include; Easterlies, Westerlies and the Trade Winds (north east and south east). The easterlies are located at about 60⁰ latitude in both hemispheres. The westerlies are located between 30⁰ and 60⁰ latitude in both hemispheres. Lastly, the north east and south east trade winds are just air movements toward the equator.
4. What causes/creates winds
Wind is caused by air from high pressure to low pressure. Since the earth is rotating, however, the air does not flow directly from high to low pressure, but it is deflected to the right (in the northern hemisphere; to the left in the southern hemisphere). So that the wind flows mostly around the high and low pressure areas. The closer the high and low pressure areas are together, the stronger the pressure gradient and the stronger the winds. Wind is created by the air flowing from a high pressure area to a low pressure area. Interestingly the direction is influenced by the rotation of the earth.
5. What is convection
Convection is when warm air rises it creates an area of low pressure. Eventually the air cools down and sinks toward the ground. Then it forms areas of high pressure. All in all, convection is when warm air rises and cold air sinks.
Works Cited
-Burroughs, William James. Weather. Alexandria, VA: Time Life, 1996. Print.-"Forces and Winds:online Meteorology Guide." Forces and Winds:online Meteorology Guide. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2013.-Morgan, Sally, and David Ellyard. Weather. [Alexandria, Va.]: Time-Life, 1996. Print.-"NASA Earth Observatory : Home." NASA Earth Observatory : Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2013.-"Weather Wiz Kids Weather Information for Kids." Weather Wiz Kids Weather Information for Kids. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2013