Global Wind Patterns
At the equator warm air rises creating an area of low pressure.
The warm air that has risen moves away from the equator and cools as it does so.
By the time it reaches latitude 30 degrees the air is cool and heavy so it presses down. This creates a zone of high pressure.
Air then moves from the high pressure towards the low pressure zone. This air is our surface winds.
The warm air that has risen moves away from the equator and cools as it does so.
By the time it reaches latitude 30 degrees the air is cool and heavy so it presses down. This creates a zone of high pressure.
Air then moves from the high pressure towards the low pressure zone. This air is our surface winds.
Coriolis Effect
Global winds move in a 'slanted' pattern as they blow from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure.
This occurs because the earth rotates on its axis from west to east.
This effect is known as the Coriolis Force.
This occurs because the earth rotates on its axis from west to east.
This effect is known as the Coriolis Force.
Global Winds and Ocean Currents
Ocean Currents are caused by unequal heating at different latitudes. This occurs in two ways:
1. Warm water towards the equator is less dense, while cold water at the Poles is the opposite. The differences cause convection currents of water to move slowly between high latitudes (the poles) and the low latitudes (the equator).
2. Global winds cause friction with the sea surfaces over which they blow. The wind drags the ocean current in the direction of the wind. For example the south westerly winds blow the North Atlantic Drift ocean current towards Ireland.
1. Warm water towards the equator is less dense, while cold water at the Poles is the opposite. The differences cause convection currents of water to move slowly between high latitudes (the poles) and the low latitudes (the equator).
2. Global winds cause friction with the sea surfaces over which they blow. The wind drags the ocean current in the direction of the wind. For example the south westerly winds blow the North Atlantic Drift ocean current towards Ireland.