Winds Wind is the horizontal movement of air

Winds

Wind - is the horizontal movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure. Wind is caused by a difference in pressure. From high to low. This difference is caused by the cool air that sinks because its so dense pushes the warm air up (going back to the whole balance thing). Winds are named by what direction they are coming from

Different kinds of Winds Local winds - winds that blow over short distances. Like winds just in Monroe. Those same winds wouldn’t be found in Atlanta. During day land heats faster than water, so by convection, cool air moves in under warm air (cool stinks, warm rise) from the water to land. This is what we call a seabreeze (ocean to land) In the night time the opposite happens. Oceans are warmer in the evening than land. So cool air from land moves in under warmer air from oceans, called land breeze.

Monsoons - are just land sea breezes over large regions (areas) that change directions with seasons. Global winds - winds from specific directions over large areas. Like Nor’easter Winds. Caused by the movement of the air between the equator and the poles. Just like with water currents, air is affected by the Coriolis effect. Northern Hemisphere curve to the right, Southern to the left

Because of the Coriolis effect, patterns form where there is lots of winds or really calm. Calm areas called doldrums Trade winds - close to the equator Prevailing winds - middle, between equator and poles Polar easterlies - close to poles One last thing real important to all travelers, an area 10 km above earth’s surface is called the jet stream which blows from west to east.