Global Winds

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What are global winds?

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Global winds are large-scale wind patterns that occur in the Earth's atmosphere, driven by the uneven heating of the Earth by the sun and the rotation of the Earth.

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What are the prevailing westerlies?

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The prevailing westerlies are winds that blow from the west to the east in the mid-latitudes of the Earth, influencing weather patterns.

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What is the Jet Stream?

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The Jet Stream is a fast-flowing air current in the atmosphere that moves from west to east and can influence weather patterns by moving air masses.

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How does the Earth's rotation affect wind direction?

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The Earth's rotation causes the Coriolis effect, which deflects winds to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere, affecting wind direction.

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What causes the uneven heating of the Earth?

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The uneven heating of the Earth is caused by the sun's rays hitting different parts of the Earth at different angles, leading to temperature variations.

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In which direction do weather patterns generally move in the United States?

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Weather patterns in the United States generally move from west to east.

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What are trade winds?

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Trade winds are steady winds that blow from east to west in the tropics, helping to drive ocean currents and weather systems.

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What is the Coriolis effect?

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The Coriolis effect is the deflection of moving objects, such as air, due to the rotation of the Earth, affecting wind and ocean currents.

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What role do ocean currents play in weather?

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Ocean currents help regulate climate and weather patterns by transporting warm and cold water across the globe, influencing air temperatures.

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What is a heat wave?

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A heat wave is a prolonged period of excessively hot weather, which may be accompanied by high humidity.