Module 8 air circulation Flashcards
What is a convection cell?
A convection cell is a circulation pattern where warm, low-pressure air rises to replace cool, high-pressure air that sinks.
What causes the formation of convection cells on Earth?
Convection cells form due to the unequal heating of the Earth and the resulting changes in pressure.
Define local winds.
Local winds are those found within a few hundred miles or kilometers of a particular point, characterized by their direction.
What is a land breeze?
A land breeze is a local wind that blows toward the ocean when pressure over land increases at night.
What phenomenon causes valley and mountain breezes?
Valley and mountain breezes occur due to the heating and cooling of air on mountain slopes.
What are jet streams?
Jet streams are large currents of air that flow high above the Earth’s surface, similar to rivers in the atmosphere.
What is the typical speed of jet streams?
Jet streams can have winds as high as 185 km/hr.
Fill in the blank: The jet stream moves south during the _______.
winter
What effect does the tilt of the Earth have on global wind patterns?
The tilt of the Earth causes seasonal shifting of wind and pressure belts.
What are monsoons?
Monsoons are extreme seasonal wind changes that shift the direction of prevailing winds.
What is the polar high?
The polar high is a high-pressure zone found at the North Pole.
What are polar easterlies?
Polar easterlies are winds that flow between the North Pole and 60° north latitude.
What is the polar front?
The polar front is where cold polar easterlies slip under warm air of the prevailing westerlies at approximately 60° North latitude.
Define prevailing westerlies.
Prevailing westerlies are winds that flow between 30° and 60° north and south latitude.
What are horse latitudes?
Horse latitudes are areas of high pressure at 30° to 35° north and south latitude, characterized by little or no wind.
What are trade winds?
Trade winds are winds that sink at 30° north and south latitudes and flow towards the equator.
Fill in the blank: The intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) is located around _______ latitude.
15° North to 15° South
What are the southeast trade winds?
Southeast trade winds are the trade winds located south of the Equator, blowing between 15° and 30° south latitude.
What happens at the polar front at approximately 60° south latitude?
Air rises at 60° south latitude, creating an area of low pressure.
What are polar south-easterlies?
Polar south-easterlies are winds that blow between the South Pole and 60° south latitude.
