GLOBAL WINDS

LEARNING TARGET 5 I AM ABLE TO

DESCRIBE THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN DENSITY, AIR PRESSURE
AND TEMPERATURE.

Convection
Define Convection: Convection is the transfer of thermal
energy by the circulation or movement of a liquid or a gas.
Demonstrations
Food Coloring in a Beaker
Chickpeas in a Beaker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v62ilJCaMFk

Convection
Warm air is less dense, this causes it to rise and creates an
area of low pressure.
Cool air is more dense, this causes it to sink and creates an
area of high pressure.

LEARNING TARGET 6 I AM ABLE TO TELL

HOW THE ROTATION OF THE EARTH
CREATES THE CORIOLIS EFFECT AND HOW
IT, ALONG WITH UNEQUAL HEATING,
RESULTS IN PREVAILING WINDS.

Winds
Wind is defined as the movement of air, what causes wind?

Wind is caused by difference is air pressure.

Why does air near the equator rise?

Air near the equator is warmer, therefore less dense,

causing it to rise.
Why is there an area of high pressure near the poles?

Air near the poles becomes very cold, therefore more

dense, this causes it to sink creating an area of high
pressure.

Winds
Use this picture to describe how the
winds move about the Earth.
Air near the equator rises and
moves (in the upper atmosphere)
toward the poles. At the poles the
air cools and sinks. Then it moves
(in the lower atmosphere) back
toward the equator.

Winds
As warm air rises over the equator and moves toward the
poles, the air begins to cool. What happens around 30
north latitude as a result of this cooling?
At about 30 north latitude some of the cool air begins
to sink creating a high pressure belt.
Number 9, is an example of a convection cell.
What is a convection cell? Large circular patterns of
wind on Earth.
Example Around 60 North latitude, warm air rises
creating a low pressure belt. The air moves north to the
North pole as it cools, it sinks creating an area of high
pressure.

Coriolis Effect
If the Earth did NOT spin, the winds would move in a straight
path from the equator to the poles and back. This, however,
is not the case. Why?
The Coriolis Effect is created by the rotation of the Earth
on its axis. This causes the winds to curve as they travel
north and south.

Global Winds
The combination of
convection cells
found at every 30 of
latitude and the
Coriolis Effect
produces patterns of
air circulation called
global winds.