Winds Winds are created by pressure differences pressure

Winds § Winds are created by pressure differences – pressure gradients

Air Pressure § The pressure exerted on an object by the air. – Occurs in all directions up, down, sideways § A barometer is used to measure the amount of pressure in the air. – Measurements are expressed in units of mm. Hg (millimeters of Mercury) or atm (atmospheres)

High Pressure Zone/Cyclone § Occurs when temperatures are cold § Little or no moisture (humidity) – The air is heavy and sinks towards Earth’s surface § Winds move outward and clockwise around the center of a cyclone

Low Pressure Zone/Anticyclone § Occurs when temperatures are warm § Can have large amounts of moisture (humidity) – The air is light and rises upward into the atmosphere § Winds move outward and counterclockwise around the center of the anticyclone

Global Winds § Global winds are created by the unequal heating of Earth. § The equator is much hotter than the rest of Earth, causing an extremely low pressure. § This causes air from adjacent areas to move towards the equator. § This movement begins a chain reaction of air movement throughout Earth, creating 6 wind belts.

The Coriolis Effect § The Coriolis effect is a result of the spinning of Earth. § As Earth spins, anything moving in a straight line from North to South will be deflected sideways. – In the Northern Hemisphere, winds, water, and other fluids will be deflected to the right at a 90 o angle. – In the Southern Hemisphere, everything will be deflected to the left at a 90 o angle.

Jet Stream § Fast flowing, relatively narrow air currents found just under the tropopause § Form at the boundaries of adjacent global wind belts

Assignment § Complete procedure questions for “Air Pressure Demonstration” § Identify Types of Energy Transfers Worksheet