Coriolis Effect and Global Winds

The video tutorial explores global wind patterns, focusing on the reasons behind air circulation, the formation of Hadley cells, and their impact on precipitation. It explains how the intense heating by the Sun at the equator causes air to rise and move towards the poles, creating high and low-pressure zones. The Coriolis effect influences the direction of wind belts, including trade winds and westerlies. Additionally, the video discusses polar air circulation, where cold air sinks and interacts with warmer air, affecting precipitation patterns.

What drives the global wind patterns?

• The ocean currents

• The gravitational pull of the Moon

• The rotation of the Earth

• The intense heating by the Sun at the equator

Why does hot air near the equator rise?

• It is pushed by ocean currents

• It is pulled by the Moon's gravity

• It is more dense

• It is less dense

What are Hadley cells?

• Large spinning circles of air

• Ocean currents

• Mountain ranges

• Desert regions

What type of climate is created by sinking air at around 30° north and south latitude?

• Savanna

• Tundra

• Desert

• Rainforest

What causes the air to bend and turn as it circulates?

• Ocean currents

• The Coriolis effect

• The gravitational pull of the Moon

• Mountain ranges

Which wind belts are created by the Coriolis effect?

• Trade winds and prevailing westerlies

• Sea breezes and land breezes

• Jet streams and doldrums

• Polar easterlies and monsoons

How do winds curve north of the equator due to the Coriolis effect?

• In a circular motion

• To the right of their path

• To the left of their path

• Straight ahead

What happens to cold polar air as it sinks?

• It moves towards the equator

• It rises

• It stays stationary

• It moves towards the poles

Where are high precipitation belts found due to rising air?

• At 60° north and south latitude

• At 30° north and south latitude

• At the poles

• At the equator

Why is precipitation modest at the poles?

• Because the air is rising

• Because the air is sinking

• Because of high temperatures

• Because of ocean currents