Wind - Global & Local Winds

Front

What are global winds?

Back

Winds that blow consistently in a specific direction over long distances, influenced by the Earth's rotation and the uneven heating of the Earth's surface.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

What are local winds?

Back

Winds that blow over short distances and are influenced by local geographical features, such as land and sea breezes.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

What are the Doldrums?

Back

A region near the equator where warm air rises, creating calm and weak winds.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

What are Trade Winds?

Back

Global winds that blow from the east towards the west in the tropics, located between the equator and 30 degrees latitude.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

What are Prevailing Westerlies?

Back

Global winds that blow from the west to the east between 30 and 60 degrees latitude.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

What are Polar Easterlies?

Back

Cold winds that blow from the east towards the west near the poles.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

What causes global winds?

Back

Global winds are caused by the unequal heating of the Earth by the sun, combined with the rotation of the Earth.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

What is convection in the atmosphere?

Back

The process of warm air rising and cool air sinking, creating wind patterns.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

What is the Coriolis effect?

Back

The apparent deflection of moving objects, such as winds, caused by the rotation of the Earth.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

What is a land breeze?

Back

A local wind that blows from land to sea, typically occurring at night when land cools faster than water.