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 tosink 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.