7.

3 Patterns of Circulation

Circulating Currents
Wind direction
Warm air rising creates a low pressure area Cool air falling creates a high pressure area Air flows from high pressure regions to low pressure regions

Circulating Currents

Circulating Currents (contd)

Global winds
Convection cells
Hadley cells
Warm updraft near equator Cool winds from 30 N and 30 S fill the void

Ferrel cells 30 N 60 N Polar cells furthest north 60 N 90 N

Circulating Currents (contd)

The Coriolis Effect

The Coriolis Effect

Earths rotation bends wind Two factors contribute to Coriolis Effect
Inertia the tendency for matter in motion to remain in motion Spherical objects spin faster at the centers than the poles

The Coriolis Effect

Foucault Pendulum

Earths Wind Zones

The equatorial zone
ITCZ (Intertopical Convergence Zone)
Light breezes and frequent calms Near equator (location varies with seasons)

Doldrums
Olden day name for ITCZ Sailing ships were often without wind here

Windless waterway
Horse latitudes
Regions at 30N and 30S on the globe

Horses were thrown overboard when rations grew scarce

Most deserts reside along the horse latitudes

Earths Wind Zones (contd)

Trading-route winds
Trade winds Aided sailing ships between continents Almost constant in speed and direction Occur in the Hadley cells region SE winds blow from SE, NE winds from NE

The cold winds

Polar easterlies high pressure region created by sinking air at poles Winds blow from polar NE and SE

Earths Wind Zones (contd)

Prevailing westerlies
Occur in the Ferrel cells region

Jet streams
Concentrated, narrow meandering bands of rapidly moving air Polar and subtropical are two types Windspeeds may reach 250MPH, typically 100 MPH

Local Winds
Dry and wet seasons
Monsoons winds that reverse their effect seasonally Often bring great rains in parts of Asia

Coastal breezes
Sea breezes occur during the day Land breezes occur at night

Out of the woods

Forests can produce a light, cool breeze

Local Winds (contd)

The batic winds
Anabatic winds which blow uphill during day Katabatic winds which blow downhill at night

Accelerating winds
Fall winds Mistral a strong fall wind in France

Warm downhill winds: Foehns Wildfire hazard: Hot, dry wind in South Cali