Question

section 3 review
section vocabulary
coriolis effect the curving of the path of a moving object from an otherwise straight path due to earths rotation
jet stream a narrow band of strong winds that blow in the upper troposphere
polar easterlies prevailing winds that blow from east to west (between 60° and 90° latitude) in both hemispheres
trade winds prevailing winds that blow from east to west from 30° latitude to the equator in both hemispheres
westerlies prevailing winds that blow from west to east between 30° and 60° latitude in both hemispheres
wind the movement of air caused by differences in air pressure

1. identify the drawing below shows a convection cell. put arrows on the cell to show which way the air is moving. label high - pressure areas with an h and low - pressure areas with an l. label cold air with a c and warm air with a w.
2. identify which global wind system blows toward the poles between 30° and 60° latitude?
3. explain why does wind tend to blow down from mountains at night?
4. apply concepts would there be winds if earths surface were the same temperature everywhere? explain your answer.

Explanation:

1. In a convection cell, warm air (W) rises creating a low - pressure (L) area, and cold air (C) sinks creating a high - pressure (H) area. Air moves from high to low pressure.
2. The westerlies blow toward the poles between 30° and 60° latitude.
3. At night, the air near the mountain slopes cools faster than the air in the valley. Cold air is denser and flows down the mountain.
4. Winds are caused by differences in air pressure. If Earth's surface were the same temperature everywhere, there would be no significant air - pressure differences, so no winds.

Answer:

1. Draw arrows showing air rising over the area heated by the sun (label W for warm air and L for low pressure), and air sinking in the cooler area (label C for cold air and H for high pressure). Air should flow from H to L horizontally.
2. Westerlies
3. Because the air near the mountain slopes cools faster at night, and cold air is denser and flows down the mountain.
4. No. Winds are due to air - pressure differences, which are caused by temperature differences. If there are no temperature differences, there are no air - pressure differences and thus no winds.