19-3 Flashcards
what are local winds? what does it create?
small-scale winds that blow over a short distance, near large body of water or mountains, creates unequal heating when large-scale winds are weak
why and where does land and sea breeze form?
Forms because land surfaces heats and cools faster and more extremely than water. forms along coastal areas on warm summer days
describe sea breeze.
During the day, solar radiation heats the land more than the water. The air over the land warms up and rises. Cooler, denser air from the sea moves inland to replace the rising warm air, creating a cool breeze from the sea toward the land.
describe land breeze.
At night, the land cools more quickly than the water. The air over the land becomes cooler and denser, causing it to sink and move outward. Meanwhile, the air over the warmer water remains less dense, so it rises and moves inland. This creates a cool breeze that moves from the land to the sea.
what is valley breeze?
The mountains heat quicker than the valley/vegetation, hot air above the mountain rises and creates low pressure. This draws cooler air from the valley, and the air moves upward along the mountain slope. happens three hours after sunrise.
what is mountain breeze?
mountain cools quicker than the valley, cool air flows down the mountain bringing cooler air to the valley. happens few hours after sunset.
what are monsoon winds during the winter?
land is cooler than ocean so dry cold air flows over land which creates drought. air flows away out to lower pressure ocean air
what are monsoon winds during the summer?
Land heats up faster than water, so the air over land becomes warmer and less dense, causing it to rise. Cooler, denser air from the water moves in, bringing moisture and creating a rainy season.
what is wind direction? what direction does north and west winds blow?
direction it is coming from, north wind blows from north towards south, west winds blows from west towards east
what is a wind vane?
what measures wind direction, always points into wind, direction described by points of compass or by degrees scale (0 or 360 is N, 90 is E, 180 is S, 270 is W)
what is prevailing wind? what direction do the prevailing westerlies blow in the mainland USA?
Prevailing wind: when winds blow consistently from one direction. The prevailing westerlies blow from west to east in the mainland USA. Cells of high and low pressure, and clockwise or counterclockwise winds, create variations within the westerlies.
what is an anemometer?
instrument used to measure wind speed
what is a wind sock?
simple device that shows both wind direction and speed. It’s a cone-shaped bag open at both ends that moves with the wind. The more inflated the sock is, the faster the wind speed.
what does a line pointing to a city indicate? what do the “tails” indicate?
where wind is coming from. “tails” indicate wind speeds in knots
describe a normal year. (what direction tradewinds blow, what side of Pacific warmer water and clouds/rain collect, what side cold water upwells)
Trade winds blow east to west, pushes warm water and clouds/rain west of the Pacific. Upwellings bring nutrients, supporting fishing, cold water upwells on the east side of Pacific.
describe an el nino year. (what trade wind direction, what strength of tradewinds, what side of Pacific warmer water and clouds/rain collect, what side cold water upwell, where it has heavy rains)
trade winds blow from west to east every 3 to 7 years. weaker trade winds. Less upwellings so poor fishing, warm water and clouds/rain collect at east side of Pacific. cold water upwells on west side. heavy rains over western South America and California, little snow in Canada and Northern USA.
describe a la nina year. (what direction and strength trade winds blow, what side of Pacific warmer water and clouds/rain collect on, wat side cold water upwells, what sides of the USA has droughts/rain.)
trade winds blow to the west, stronger tradewinds, warmer water and clouds/rain collect on west side of the Pacific, more, cold water upwells on east side of Pacific. droughts in Southern USA, more rain/snow in midwest.
what is the region near the equatorial low like?
tropical region, rainiest. warm, humid trade winds converge creating rainfall.
what is the region near the subtropical high like?
regions of desert
do areas in the middle of large land masses have less or more precipitation?
less precipitation
