Coriolis Effect
Global Winds
Chapter 2.3
Pages 57-60
Coriolis Effect
• The effect of Earth’s rotation which makes
winds curve
– Winds want to move in a straight line but the
earth rotates under them, making it seem as
though the wind curved.
Coriolis Effect
• In the Northern
hemisphere Earth
rotates counter
clock wise
– All winds curve to
the right.
Coriolis Effect
• In the Southern
hemisphere Earth
rotates clock wise
– All winds curve to
the left.
Global Winds
• Winds that blow
steadily from specific
directions over long
distances.
• Caused by unequal
heating of the
surface.
Global Winds
Global Winds
Exit Pass
What is the Coriolis Effect?
(Why does it happen, and
what does it cause?)
Doldrums
• Located: At the
equator
• Area of Low
Pressure
– Rising Air
• Definition: a state of
inactivity or stagnation
• Winds: Calm
Horse Latitudes
• Located: 30°N and
30°S
• Area of high
pressure
– Sinking air
• Winds: Calm
– Sailors would get trapped
and run out of food and
water, they threw their
horses overboard.
Trade Winds
• Between the
– Equator and 30°N
– Equator and 30°S
• Winds: Steady
from the east
– Sailors relied on
them to carry goods
from Europe to West
Indies and S.
America.
Prevailing Westerlies
• Location: Midlatitude winds
– Between 30° & 60°N
– Between 30° & 60°S
• Winds: From the
west
• Cause our weather
• Blow away from the
horse latitudes.
Polar Easterlies
• Location: Between
– 60°N and 90°N
– 60°S and 90°S
• Winds: FROM the
east to west
– Cold, low pressure
air from the poles
sinks and flows away
from the pole to the
equator.
Jet Stream
• 10km above the
Earth’s surface
• Bands of high speed
winds
– 200-400km/hr
• Blow from west to
east
• Wanders north and
south.
Exit Pass
Describe two of the Global
Winds (Where is it located, H
or L pressure, direction, etc.)