Wind Patterns Flashcards
Convection Current
Gases (air) and liquids (water) rise and sink in a circular path.
Sea Breeze
When days are sunny, the land heats up faster than the sea. The warm air above the land rises. Cooler air from over the sea moves in to replace it. This causes a sea breeze
Land Breeze
When the sun sets, the land cools off faster than the sea. The warm air above the sea rises. Cooler air from the land moves toward the sea to replace it. This causes a land breeze.
Coriolis efffect
The rotation of the earth causes objects in the northern hemisphere to deflect to the right while objects in the Southern Hemisphere are deflected to the left.
Jet stream
A band of very fast moving wind caused by difference in temperature
Trade winds
Winds that blow towards the equator
Doldrums
A spot near the equator where there are very few winds
Prevailing winds
Winds that blow away from the equator and they bring warmer air to the poles.
Prevailing Easterlies
Winds that are found near the poles and move east to west
Prevailing westerlies
Winds that blow away from the equator and blow west to east they are found over the United States.
Polar Easterlies
Winds that are found near the poles that move east to west
The Gulf Stream
An ocean current that brings warmer temperatures to the eastern coast of the U.S. they are found in the Atlantic Ocean
El Niño
A band of warm ocean temperatures that develop off the coast of South America. They can cause droughts
La Niña
Band of cold ocean temperatures that develop off the coast of South America. They can cause more precipitation and they cool down climates
