Wind

Front

Wind Noun

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[wind]

Back

Wind

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The movement of air caused by differences in air pressure, typically from a high-pressure area to a low-pressure area.

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Example: This diagram shows Earth's major wind patterns, called planetary winds, which are large-scale movements of air caused by the planet's rotation and uneven heating.

Front

Air Pressure Noun

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[air presh-er]

Back

Air Pressure

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The force exerted by the weight of air on a surface; differences in this force are the primary cause of wind.

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Example: This diagram uses a balance scale to show that air pressure is lower at high altitudes (fewer air particles) and higher at low altitudes (more air particles).

Front

Low Pressure Noun

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[loh presh-er]

Back

Low Pressure

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An atmospheric condition created when less dense, warm air rises, resulting in fewer air molecules and lower exerted force.

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Example: This diagram shows that as altitude increases, like on a mountain top, there are fewer air molecules, which results in lower atmospheric pressure.

Front

High Pressure Noun

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[hy presh-er]

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High Pressure

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An atmospheric condition created when denser, cold air sinks, resulting in more air molecules and higher exerted force.

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Example: This diagram shows a high-pressure system, where air pressure is highest at the center (H) and decreases outward, as shown by the isobar values.

Front

Local Winds Noun

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[loh-kuhl windz]

Back

Local Winds

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Winds that move over short distances and are often caused by the geography of a specific area, like mountains.

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Example: During the day, land heats faster than the sea. Warm air over the land rises, and cooler air from the sea moves in, creating a local wind called a sea breeze.

Front

Sea Breeze Noun

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[see breez]

Back

Sea Breeze

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A local wind blowing from the sea to the land during the day, as land heats up faster than water.

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Example: During the day, cool air from the ocean moves toward the land to replace the rising warm air, creating a wind called a sea breeze.

Front

Land Breeze Noun

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[land breez]

Back

Land Breeze

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A local wind blowing from the land to the sea at night, as land cools down faster than water.

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Example: At night, land cools faster than the sea, causing cooler air to flow from the land towards the sea, creating a land breeze.

Front

Valley Breeze Noun

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[val-ee breez]

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Valley Breeze

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An upslope wind that occurs during the day as the sun warms the air on mountain slopes, causing it to rise.

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Example: The sun heats mountain slopes during the day, causing warm air to rise and flow up from the valley, creating a valley breeze.

Front

Mountain Breeze Noun

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[moun-tin breez]

Back

Mountain Breeze

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A downslope wind that occurs at night as the air on mountain slopes cools, becomes denser, and sinks into valleys.

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Example: At night, cool, dense air on a mountain slope sinks, creating a "mountain breeze" that flows down into the warmer valley below.

Front

Global Winds Noun

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[gloh-buhl windz]

Back

Global Winds

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Large-scale wind systems that circulate over vast distances across the Earth, driven by uneven heating and the planet's rotation.

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Example: This diagram shows how uneven heating of the Earth creates large, circular patterns of air movement, called atmospheric circulation cells, which form global winds.