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Winds, Cyclones, and Anticyclones. Station 1. WINDS. Winds are caused by a difference in air pressure due to unequal heating of the atmosphere Heating the air, decreases pressure (warm air rises creating a low pressure)
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Winds, Cyclones, and Anticyclones Station 1
WINDS • Winds are caused by a difference in air pressure due to unequal heating of the atmosphere • Heating the air, decreases pressure (warm air rises creating a low pressure) • Cool air rushes into replace the warm air (cooler dense air, produces high pressure) • As air goes from high to low pressure, winds form.
Two Types of Winds 1. Local Winds • cover short distances • Blow from any direction • 2 Types of Local Winds • Sea Breezes- from sea to land • Land Breezes – from land to sea
Two Types of Winds 2. Global Winds • Don’t travel North and South because of the Earth rotating on its axis. • 4 Types of Global Winds • Doldrums • Trade Winds • Prevailing Winds • Polar Easterlies
2 primary methods for air mass movement • Prevailing Westerlies: Pushes air masses from west to east. • Jet streams: Pushes fast moving air masses from west to east.
CYCLONES • Formed around centers of low pressure. • Caused as the boundary between fronts become distorted by surface features; mountains or strong winds. • Represented on weather maps by anL. • Warm air rises and spins counterclockwise around the center. • Storms and precipitation are associated with areas of low pressure as the warm air rises & condenses to form clouds & precipitation.
ANTICYCLONES • Formed around centers of high pressure. • Represented on weather maps by anH. • Cold air sinks and spins clockwise around the center. • Dry weather and clear skies are associated with areas of high pressure as the cooler air falls & becomes warmer causing a drop in relative