Winds – Elements of Weather and Climate

<<<<-2a ul>

The Hadley circulation is a major component of the Earth’s climate system. It helps to distribute heat around the globe and to regulate the Earth’s temperature. The Hadley circulation also plays a role in the formation of weather patterns.

The trade winds are a belt of easterly winds that blow between the equator and 30 degrees north and south latitude. The trade winds are caused by the Hadley circulation. The rising air at the equator moves towards the poles, while the sinking air at the poles moves towards the equator. This circulation of air creates a pressure difference between the equator and the poles. The pressure difference drives the trade winds.

The trade winds are important for global weather patterns. They help to transport heat from the equator to the poles. They also help to regulate the Earth’s temperature. The trade winds are also important for shipping and navigation.

The westerlies are a belt of westerly winds that blow between 30 degrees north and south latitude. The westerlies are caused by the Hadley circulation. The rising air at the equator moves towards the poles, while the sinking air at the poles moves towards the equator. This circulation of air creates a pressure difference between the equator and the poles. The pressure difference drives the westerlies.

The westerlies are important for global weather patterns. They help to transport heat from the equator to the poles. They also help to regulate the Earth’s temperature. The westerlies are also important for shipping and navigation.

The polar easterlies are a belt of easterly winds that blow between 60 degrees north and south latitude. The polar easterlies are caused by the polar vortex. The polar vortex is a large area of cold air that sits over the poles. The polar vortex is caused by the Earth’s rotation. The Earth’s rotation causes the air at the poles to sink. The sinking air creates a pressure difference between the poles and the equator. The pressure difference drives the polar easterlies.

The polar easterlies are important for global weather patterns. They help to transport heat from the equator to the poles. They also help to regulate the Earth’s temperature. The polar easterlies are also important for shipping and navigation.

Jet streams are fast-flowing, narrow bands of air found in the atmosphere. Jet streams are caused by the Earth’s rotation and the difference in temperature between the equator and the poles. The Earth’s rotation causes the air at the equator to move faster than the air at the poles. This difference in speed creates a pressure difference. The pressure difference drives the jet streams.

Jet streams are important for global weather patterns. They help to transport heat from the equator to the poles. They also help to regulate the Earth’s temperature. Jet streams are also important for aviation. The jet streams can help to speed up or slow down airplanes.

Monsoons are Seasonal Winds that blow between the land and the ocean. Monsoons are caused by the difference in temperature between the land and the ocean. The land heats up faster than the ocean. This difference in temperature creates a pressure difference. The pressure difference drives the monsoons.

Monsoons are important for global weather patterns. They help to transport heat from the land to the ocean. They also help to regulate the Earth’s temperature. Monsoons are also important for agriculture. The monsoons bring much-needed rain to many parts of the world.

Land breezes and sea breezes are Local Winds that blow between the land and the ocean. Land breezes blow from the land to the ocean at night. Sea breezes blow from the ocean to the land during the day. Land breezes and sea breezes are caused by the difference in temperature between the land and the ocean. The land cools down faster than the ocean at night. This difference in temperature creates a pressure difference. The pressure difference drives the land breezes.

Land breezes and sea breezes are important for local weather patterns. They help to transport heat from the land to the ocean. They also help to regulate the Earth’s temperature. Land breezes and sea breezes are also important for shipping and navigation.

Chinook winds are warm, dry winds that blow down the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Chinook winds are caused by the difference in temperature between the air at the top of the mountains and the air at the bottom of the mountains. The air at the top of
Atmospheric circulation

• What causes the Earth’s atmosphere to circulate? The Earth’s rotation and the uneven heating of the Earth’s surface by the sun cause the atmosphere to circulate.
• What are the main types of atmospheric circulation? The main types of atmospheric circulation are the Hadley cells, the Ferrel cells, and the polar cells.
• What are the trade winds? The trade winds are the prevailing winds that blow from the northeast in the Northern Hemisphere and from the southeast in the Southern Hemisphere.
• What are the westerlies? The westerlies are the prevailing winds that blow from the west in the mid-latitudes.
• What are the polar easterlies? The polar easterlies are the prevailing winds that blow from the east in the polar regions.
• What are jet streams? Jet streams are fast-flowing, narrow bands of air found in the atmosphere.
• What are monsoons? Monsoons are seasonal winds that blow from the land to the sea in the summer and from the sea to the land in the winter.
• What are land breezes and sea breezes? Land breezes are winds that blow from the land to the sea during the night, and sea breezes are winds that blow from the sea to the land during the day.
• What are Chinook winds? Chinook winds are warm, dry winds that blow down the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains.
• What are Foehn winds? Foehn winds are warm, dry winds that blow down the leeward side of a mountain range.
• What are Santa Ana winds? Santa Ana winds are hot, dry winds that blow from the east down the slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California.
• What are Bora winds? Bora winds are cold, dry winds that blow down the eastern slopes of the Alps.
• What are Sirocco winds? Sirocco winds are hot, dry winds that blow from the Sahara Desert across North Africa.
• What are Khamsin winds? Khamsin winds are hot, dry winds that blow from the Sahara Desert across Egypt.
• What are Harmattan winds? Harmattan winds are hot, dry winds that blow from the Sahara Desert across West Africa.
• What are Loo winds? Loo winds are hot, dry winds that blow from the Thar Desert across India.
• What are dust devils? Dust devils are small, rotating columns of air that form over hot, dry surfaces.
• What are tornadoes? Tornadoes are violently rotating columns of air that form from thunderstorms.
• What are hurricanes? Hurricanes are tropical cyclones that form over warm waters in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico.
• What are typhoons? Typhoons are tropical cyclones that form over warm waters in the western Pacific Ocean.
• What are cyclones? Cyclones are tropical cyclones that form over warm waters in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific Ocean.
• What are Nor’easters? Nor’easters are large, powerful storms that form along the east coast of the United States.
• What are blizzards? Blizzards are severe snowstorms that are accompanied by strong winds and low visibility.
• What are dust storms? Dust storms are large, turbulent clouds of dust that form when dry, loose SoilSoil is picked up by the wind.
• What are sandstorms? Sandstorms are large, turbulent clouds of sand that form when dry, loose sand is picked up by the wind.
• What are hailstorms? Hailstorms are severe weather events in which large hailstones fall from the sky.
• What are lightning? Lightning is a discharge of electricity that occurs between clouds or between a cloud and the ground.
• What are thunderstorms? Thunderstorms are severe weather events that are characterized by lightning, thunder, heavy rain, and strong winds.
• What are rains? Rain is water that falls from the sky in liquid form.
• What are snows? Snow is water that falls from the sky in solid form.
• What are sleets? Sleet is a mixture of rain and snow that falls from the sky.
• What are freezing rains? Freezing rain is rain that falls in liquid form but freezes on contact with the ground.
• What are ice storms? Ice storms are severe weather events in which freezing rain falls from the sky and coats everything in ice.
• What are fogs? Fog is a cloud that forms at ground level.
• What are mists? Mist is a thin layer of cloud that forms at ground level.
• What are hazes? Haze is a thin layer of smoke or dust that hangs in the air and reduces visibility.
• What are clouds? Clouds are visible masses of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere.
• What are stratus clouds? Stratus clouds are low, uniform clouds that form in a layer.
• What are cumulus clouds?

• Which of the following is not a type of wind?
  (A) Trade winds
  (B) Westerlies
  (CC) Polar easterlies
  (D) Jet streams
  (E) Hurricanes

• Which of the following is a type of atmospheric circulation?
  (A) Monsoons
  (B) Land breezes and sea breezes
  (C) Chinook winds
  (D) Foehn winds
  (E) All of the above

• Which of the following is a type of dust storm?
  (A) Dust devil
  (B) TornadoTornado
  (C) Hurricane
  (D) Typhoon
  (E) None of the above

• Which of the following is a type of thunderstorm?
  (A) Lightning
  (B) Thunder
  (C) Rain
  (D) Snow
  (E) All of the above

• Which of the following is a type of cloud?
  (A) Stratus cloud
  (B) Cumulus cloud
  (C) Cirrus cloud
  (D) Cumulonimbus cloud
  (E) All of the above

• Which of the following is not a type of cloud?
  (A) Altocumulus cloud
  (B) Altostratus cloud
  (C) Nimbostratus cloud
  (D) Stratocumulus cloud
  (E) Lenticular cloud

• Which of the following is a type of cloud that is associated with thunderstorms?
  (A) Cumulonimbus cloud
  (B) Nimbostratus cloud
  (C) Stratocumulus cloud
  (D) Lenticular cloud
  (E) None of the above

• Which of the following is a type of cloud that is associated with fair weather?
  (A) Stratus cloud
  (B) Cumulus cloud
  (C) Cirrus cloud
  (D) Cumulonimbus cloud
  (E) None of the above

• Which of the following is a type of cloud that is associated with cold weather?
  (A) Altocumulus cloud
  (B) Altostratus cloud
  (C) Nimbostratus cloud
  (D) Stratocumulus cloud
  (E) Lenticular cloud

• Which of the following is a type of cloud that is associated with high altitudes?
  (A) Cirrus cloud
  (B) Cumulonimbus cloud
  (C) Stratocumulus cloud
  (D) Lenticular cloud
  (E) None of the above