Weather hazards

• What is wind primarily caused by?

  Differences in air pressure
• Why is the equator warmer than the poles?

  Due to differences in temperature
• In which direction does wind move?

  From high pressure to low pressure areas
• What are the global atmospheric circulation cells characterized by?

  • Air rising creates low pressure belts
  • Air sinking creates high pressure belts
  • Includes equatorial and polar cells
• What happens to air at the equator?

  It gets hotter and rises
• What forms as the rising air cools at the equator?

  A low pressure belt
• What occurs when water vapor condenses in rising air?

  It creates rain and clouds
• What happens to air as it moves from the equator towards 30° north and south?

  It cools and forms high pressure belts
• What characterizes the high pressure belt at 30° north and south?

  Minimal rainfall and clouds
• What happens to surface winds at 30° north and south?

  They move towards the equator or sink
• What happens to cold air from the poles at 60° north and south?

  It reaches surface winds
• What occurs when the air from the poles warms up?

  It rises and forms a low pressure belt
• What is formed at the poles due to cooling air masses?

  A high pressure air mass
• What are the characteristics of trade winds?

  • Blow from 30° north or south
  • Move back towards the equator
  • Heated air starts the cycle again
• What are westerlies?

  • Surface winds from 30° northwards
  • Flow towards the north pole
  • Surface winds from 30° southwards
  • Flow towards the south pole