4.5 Global Wind Patterns

• What are global wind patterns?

  Large-scale air movements
• Unequal heating by the sun creates areas of high and low atmospheric pressure
• The Coriolis effect deflects air currents to the right in the Southern Hemisphere.

  False
• Match the pressure zone with its corresponding wind pattern:

  Equator ↔️ Trade winds

  30° Latitude ↔️ Westerlies

  Poles ↔️ Polar easterlies
• Order the major global wind belts from the equator to the poles:

  1️⃣ Trade winds

  2️⃣ Westerlies

  3️⃣ Polar easterlies
• Where are the Trade winds located?

  0° to 30° latitude
• The Westerlies are deflected to the east due to the Coriolis effect
• Polar easterlies are as strong as Trade winds.

  False
• What are the key features of the Westerlies?

  Strong and variable winds
• The Polar Easterlies are deflected to the west due to the Coriolis
• The Polar Easterlies are found in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
• The Coriolis effect causes moving air to be deflected
• In the Coriolis effect equation, $\vec{v}$ represents the velocity of the air
• Global wind patterns are driven by unequal heating by the sun and the Coriolis effect.
• The Coriolis effect influences the direction of global wind patterns.
• What are the two primary drivers of global wind patterns?

  Unequal heating and Coriolis effect
• Unequal heating by the sun creates low-pressure zones near the poles.

  False
• The Coriolis effect deflects moving air, influencing wind direction
• Match the wind belt with its location:

  Trade winds ↔️ 0° to 30°

  Westerlies ↔️ 30° to 60°

  Polar easterlies ↔️ 60° to 90°
• What does $\vec{\omega}$ represent in the Coriolis effect equation?


  Earth's angular velocity
• In the Coriolis effect equation, $F_{c}$ represents the Coriolis force
• Steps involved in the creation of global wind patterns

  1️⃣ Unequal heating by the sun creates pressure differences

  2️⃣ Low-pressure zones form near the equator

  3️⃣ High-pressure zones form near the poles

  4️⃣ Air flows from high to low pressure

  5️⃣ The Coriolis effect deflects air movement
• In which hemisphere are air currents deflected to the right due to the Coriolis effect?

  Northern Hemisphere
• Unequal heating by the sun creates low-pressure zones at the equator
• The Coriolis effect is caused by the Earth's tilt on its axis.

  False
• What are the three major global wind belts?

  Trade winds, westerlies, polar easterlies
• The Trade winds are deflected west in both hemispheres
• Westerlies influence weather in temperate regions and are deflected east in both hemispheres.
• How do global wind patterns influence climate?

  Redistributing heat and moisture
• Match the wind pattern effect with its description:

  Temperature distribution ↔️ Affects climate zones

  Precipitation patterns ↔️ Influences rainfall frequency

  Ocean currents ↔️ Moderates temperature
• The Coriolis effect equation includes Earth's angular velocity
• Trade winds move toward the equator
• Westerlies move air toward the poles.
• Unequal heating by the sun creates low-pressure zones at the equator
• The Coriolis effect deflects air to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.
• What is the formula for the Coriolis force?

  $F_{c} =$$- 2m \cdot \vec{v} \times \vec{\omega}$
• High-pressure zones are created at the poles
• The Coriolis effect deflects air to the right in the Northern Hemisphere.
• Match the factors influencing wind patterns with their description:

  Unequal heating by the sun ↔️ Creates high and low-pressure zones

  Coriolis effect ↔️ Deflects moving air due to Earth's rotation
• Warmer air rises at the equator, forming a low-pressure zone