Wind in the Atmosphere Vocab

Front

The effect of Earth's rotation on the direction of winds and currents.

Back

Coriolis effect

Front

0 degrees latitude, where the Sun's rays are the most intense.

Back

Equator

Front

0 degrees longitude

Back

0 degrees longitude passes through Greenwich, London, and is also known as the Prime Meridian.

Front

The movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area of lower pressure

Back

wind

Front

prevailing winds that blow from west to east between 30 degrees and 60 degrees latitude in the northern and southern hemispheres

Back

Westerlies

Front

Steady winds that blow from east to west from 30 degrees latitude to the equator in the northern and southern hemispheres

Back

Trade winds

Front

A narrow belt of strong winds blows in the upper troposphere ( about 10 km above Earth's surface). Planes flying West to East can get a boost!

Back

Jet stream

Front

Cold winds that blow from the east to the west near the North Pole and South Pole

Back

Polar easterlies

Front

movement of air from sea to land during the day when cooler air from above the water moves over the land, forcing the heated, less dense air above the land to rise

Back

Sea breeze

Front

Movement of air from land to sea at night, created when cooler, denser air from the land forces up warmer air over the sea.

Back

Land breeze