Global Geography 12
Global Wind Patterns and Currents (Pages 60-67)
1. What two processes cause motion in the atmosphere and oceans?
The two processes are the uneven heating of the Earth’s surface (warm at the
Equator, cold at the poles) and the Coriolis Effect (Earth’s rotation causes
“curves” in weather and currents)
2. Explain the main difference in how the atmosphere and oceans are heated.
The atmosphere is heated by infrared (heat radiated from the Earth’s surface
upward) while the oceans are heated by absorbing sunlight (from the surface
downward)
3. Define convection cells.
On the global scale, warm air rises, travels North or south – depending on
location – then descends to the surface.
4. Define Coriolis effect and describe how it affects winds in both the Northern
and Southern hemispheres.
The curvature of the Earth’s surface affects the relative speed at different
latitudes. As a result, winds in the north curve to the right (clockwise) and winds
in the south curve left(counterclockwise).
5. What is a jet stream? Where do jet streams occur?
It’s a fast moving current of air, high in the atmosphere. There are two in each
hemisphere. (Text is not clear on location!)
6. What causes seasonal changes in winds?
The tilt of the planet relative to the sun changes the location of the warmest areas
(although these are always found between the two tropics).
7. Where do monsoon winds occur? Describe the seasonal pattern of these
winds and the weather that results.
Monsoons occur mainly in Southeast Asia. In (our) winter they blow from east to
west, creating a dry season. In (our) summer they blow from West to East,
creating a rainy season.
8. Describe similarities and differences between ocean currents and wind in a
table.
similarities
differences

Both are moving fluids

One involves water, the other air

Both are caused by heating


Both are affected by Coriolis
effect
Ocean currents are affected by
salinity as well as temperature


Both are important to human
activities
Ocean currents are affected by
the size of the ocean and shape
of coastlines
9. Define spring and neap tides.
Spring tides are very strong tides that occur when the sun and moon align
Neap tides are exceptionally weak tides (when the sun and moons pull
counteract)
10. Read the case study on page 63 -64.
a. Describe several (3-5) impacts of flooding on the lives of people in
Bangladesh.
Homes are destroyed
crops are lost
No access to clean water
Diseases spread
Infrastructure is damaged
b. Suggest 2-3 reasons why disasters have a stronger impact on people in
less developed countries.
Governments have less emergency funding available for rebuilding, and fewer
services to assist during the crisis
Heavy reliance on agriculture means there is a more direct impact on daily
lives
Populations are crowded, so many more people may be affected
c. What two global processes or systems may have been the cause of the
increased flooding?
Higher sea levels
Global warming
Earthquakes in the Indian ocean