Global Wind Patterns - Middle School Earth and Space Science
Card 1 of 25
Identify the wind belt at about $45^\circ$ latitude: trade winds, westerlies, or polar easterlies?
Identify the wind belt at about $45^\circ$ latitude: trade winds, westerlies, or polar easterlies?
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Westerlies. $45°$ falls within the Ferrel cell's westerly wind zone.
Westerlies. $45°$ falls within the Ferrel cell's westerly wind zone.
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What global pressure belt is typically found near $60^ 0$ latitude?
What global pressure belt is typically found near $60^ 0$ latitude?
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Subpolar low-pressure belt (rising air at polar front). Warm air from south meets cold polar air, forcing upward motion.
Subpolar low-pressure belt (rising air at polar front). Warm air from south meets cold polar air, forcing upward motion.
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What global pressure pattern is typical at the poles near $90^ 0$ latitude?
What global pressure pattern is typical at the poles near $90^ 0$ latitude?
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Polar high-pressure (cold, dense, sinking air). Extremely cold air creates high density and pressure.
Polar high-pressure (cold, dense, sinking air). Extremely cold air creates high density and pressure.
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What are trade winds, and in which direction do they blow in the Northern Hemisphere?
What are trade winds, and in which direction do they blow in the Northern Hemisphere?
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Surface winds toward equator; blow from northeast to southwest. Hadley cell surface winds deflected right by Coriolis effect.
Surface winds toward equator; blow from northeast to southwest. Hadley cell surface winds deflected right by Coriolis effect.
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What is the primary energy source that drives global atmospheric circulation?
What is the primary energy source that drives global atmospheric circulation?
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Uneven solar heating of Earth’s surface. Solar radiation is strongest at the equator and weakest at poles.
Uneven solar heating of Earth’s surface. Solar radiation is strongest at the equator and weakest at poles.
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What global pressure belt is typically found near $60^\circ$ latitude in both hemispheres?
What global pressure belt is typically found near $60^\circ$ latitude in both hemispheres?
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Subpolar low-pressure belt. Where warm air from Ferrel cells meets cold polar air.
Subpolar low-pressure belt. Where warm air from Ferrel cells meets cold polar air.
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What global pressure belt is typically found near $30^\circ$ latitude in both hemispheres?
What global pressure belt is typically found near $30^\circ$ latitude in both hemispheres?
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Subtropical high-pressure belt. Air from Hadley cells descends here, creating dry conditions.
Subtropical high-pressure belt. Air from Hadley cells descends here, creating dry conditions.
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What global pressure belt is typically found near $0^\circ$ latitude?
What global pressure belt is typically found near $0^\circ$ latitude?
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Equatorial low-pressure belt (ITCZ). Warm air rises where trade winds from both hemispheres meet.
Equatorial low-pressure belt (ITCZ). Warm air rises where trade winds from both hemispheres meet.
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Which direction does the Coriolis effect deflect moving air in the Northern Hemisphere?
Which direction does the Coriolis effect deflect moving air in the Northern Hemisphere?
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To the right of its motion. Northern Hemisphere deflection follows the right-hand rule.
To the right of its motion. Northern Hemisphere deflection follows the right-hand rule.
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What is the name of the circulation cell between $60^\circ$ and $90^\circ$ latitude?
What is the name of the circulation cell between $60^\circ$ and $90^\circ$ latitude?
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Polar cell. Cold dense air sinks at poles and flows toward $60°$ latitude.
Polar cell. Cold dense air sinks at poles and flows toward $60°$ latitude.
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What is the name of the circulation cell between $30^\circ$ and $60^\circ$ latitude?
What is the name of the circulation cell between $30^\circ$ and $60^\circ$ latitude?
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Ferrel cell. Mid-latitude cell driven by adjacent Hadley and Polar cells.
Ferrel cell. Mid-latitude cell driven by adjacent Hadley and Polar cells.
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What is the name of the circulation cell between $0^\circ$ and $30^\circ$ latitude?
What is the name of the circulation cell between $0^\circ$ and $30^\circ$ latitude?
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Hadley cell. Named after George Hadley; extends from equator to subtropics.
Hadley cell. Named after George Hadley; extends from equator to subtropics.
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Which direction does the Coriolis effect deflect moving air in the Southern Hemisphere?
Which direction does the Coriolis effect deflect moving air in the Southern Hemisphere?
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To the left of its motion. Southern Hemisphere deflection is opposite to Northern Hemisphere.
To the left of its motion. Southern Hemisphere deflection is opposite to Northern Hemisphere.
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What is the Coriolis effect?
What is the Coriolis effect?
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Apparent deflection of moving air due to Earth’s rotation. Earth's rotation causes moving objects to curve rather than travel straight.
Apparent deflection of moving air due to Earth’s rotation. Earth's rotation causes moving objects to curve rather than travel straight.
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What global pressure belt is typically found near $90^\circ$ latitude?
What global pressure belt is typically found near $90^\circ$ latitude?
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Polar high-pressure belt. Cold, dense air creates high pressure at Earth's poles.
Polar high-pressure belt. Cold, dense air creates high pressure at Earth's poles.
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What are the trade winds (overall direction) in the Northern Hemisphere?
What are the trade winds (overall direction) in the Northern Hemisphere?
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Northeast to southwest (NE trade winds). Coriolis deflects equator-bound winds rightward in NH.
Northeast to southwest (NE trade winds). Coriolis deflects equator-bound winds rightward in NH.
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What are the trade winds (overall direction) in the Southern Hemisphere?
What are the trade winds (overall direction) in the Southern Hemisphere?
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Southeast to northwest (SE trade winds). Coriolis deflects equator-bound winds leftward in SH.
Southeast to northwest (SE trade winds). Coriolis deflects equator-bound winds leftward in SH.
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What is the ITCZ and what happens to air there?
What is the ITCZ and what happens to air there?
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Intertropical Convergence Zone; air converges and rises. Trade winds meet, causing thunderstorms and heavy rainfall.
Intertropical Convergence Zone; air converges and rises. Trade winds meet, causing thunderstorms and heavy rainfall.
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What are polar easterlies (overall direction) in the Northern Hemisphere?
What are polar easterlies (overall direction) in the Northern Hemisphere?
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Northeast to southwest (winds from the east). Cold polar air flows toward $60°$ and deflects right in NH.
Northeast to southwest (winds from the east). Cold polar air flows toward $60°$ and deflects right in NH.
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What are the prevailing westerlies (overall direction) in the Southern Hemisphere?
What are the prevailing westerlies (overall direction) in the Southern Hemisphere?
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Northwest to southeast (winds from the west). Coriolis deflects poleward-moving air leftward in SH.
Northwest to southeast (winds from the west). Coriolis deflects poleward-moving air leftward in SH.
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What are the prevailing westerlies (overall direction) in the Northern Hemisphere?
What are the prevailing westerlies (overall direction) in the Northern Hemisphere?
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Southwest to northeast (winds from the west). Coriolis deflects poleward-moving air rightward in NH.
Southwest to northeast (winds from the west). Coriolis deflects poleward-moving air rightward in NH.
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Which pressure belt best explains many deserts near $30^\circ$ latitude?
Which pressure belt best explains many deserts near $30^\circ$ latitude?
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Subtropical high-pressure belt (sinking, dry air). Descending air warms and dries, creating arid conditions.
Subtropical high-pressure belt (sinking, dry air). Descending air warms and dries, creating arid conditions.
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What are the three main atmospheric circulation cells in each hemisphere?
What are the three main atmospheric circulation cells in each hemisphere?
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Hadley cell, Ferrel cell, Polar cell. Three convection cells per hemisphere create global wind patterns.
Hadley cell, Ferrel cell, Polar cell. Three convection cells per hemisphere create global wind patterns.
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What is the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)?
What is the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)?
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Equatorial low-pressure belt where trade winds converge and air rises. Northeast and southeast trade winds meet here, forcing air upward.
Equatorial low-pressure belt where trade winds converge and air rises. Northeast and southeast trade winds meet here, forcing air upward.
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What causes air to rise near the equator in global circulation models?
What causes air to rise near the equator in global circulation models?
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Strong solar heating makes air warm, less dense, and buoyant. Warm air expands, becomes less dense than surrounding air, and rises.
Strong solar heating makes air warm, less dense, and buoyant. Warm air expands, becomes less dense than surrounding air, and rises.
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