Lab #7 Winds and Currents S21 Key

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Palomar College *

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100

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Geography

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Feb 20, 2024

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Lab #7 Global Winds, Ocean Currents and Regional Climate Patterns - Answer Key Part I - General Atmosphere and Surface Ocean Circulation Patterns 1. Winds are generated due to pressure differences, which are themselves generally the result of unequal heating of Earth’s surface. Atmospheric pressure can be idealized in order to understand basic atmospheric circulation. Use Figure 2 in the lab introduction as a reference to assist in completing the following chart using t he terms “ high pressure ” or “ low pressure . ” Latitude Location Average Relative Atmospheric Pressure 0° (Equator) ________ Low Pressure _______ 30° North & South ______ High Pressure ______ 60° North & South _______ Low Pressure _____ 90° North & South _______ High Pressure _______ 2. Winds across Earth’s surface are produced due to pressure differences (gradients). Winds flow from areas of (circle one): high pressure / low pressure to areas of (circle one): high pressure / low pressure The (circle one): smaller / greater the pressure difference, the stronger the winds. 3. Vertical movement of air within each pressure zone is part of a much larger circulation pattern within the atmosphere related to large-scale convection. Vertical air movement may be air rises or air sinks . As a result of the vertical movement of air within each pressure zone, a distinct general climate is established for that region. This general climate may be considered as clear, dry & sunny skies or cloudy conditions with rain likely dependent upon the atmospheric pressure. Based upon information from the lab introduction, use the above terminology to complete the following chart: Low Pressure High Pressure Vertical Air Movement Air rises Air sinks General Climate Cloudy conditions with rain likely Clear, dry & sunny skies

4. In response to the atmospheric pressure differences, surface winds are produced. In all, the four pressure zones identified in Question #1, generate three global wind belts in each hemisphere. Match the labeled arrows on the diagram with the proper name of the wind belt. Pay close attention to not only the name of the wind belt but its direction of flow as well. Hint: Winds are named for the directions from which they come. A - 90°-60° North = NE Polar Easterlies B - 60°-30° North = SW Westerlies C - 30°-0° North = NE Trade Winds D - 30°-0° South = SE Trade Winds E - 60°-30° South = NW Westerlies F - 90°-60° South = SE Polar Easterlies Due to Earth’s rotation, prevailing winds do not blow directly north or south. Wind direction choices are terms such as northeast, southeast, northwest and southwest . The wind belts are the Trade Winds, the Westerlies, and Polar Easterlies . Thus an example of a wind belt might be NE Trade Winds. Place the full correct wind name (including direction) in the spaces provided above for each latitude belt. 5. In this satellite image of Earth's surface, a distinct band of clouds is seen along the equatorial Pacific. Referred to as the ITCZ or Intertropical Convergence Zone, it represents the convergence of the __ Trade ____winds , producing clouds as a result of a dominant _____ Low _____ pressure. (Fill in the blanks with the correct response)

6. Largely a function of the spherical shape of the planet, Trade Winds and Westerlies play a much larger role in generating the ocean's surface circulation than Polar Easterlies. As Trade Winds and Westerlies blow across the ocean surface, energy is transferred from the atmosphere to the ocean surface, setting the water in motion. The currents that are produced are called "geostrophic" currents as they are affected by not only the winds, but also Earth's rotation (hence "geostrophic" means "earth turned.") In this image, ocean currents driven by the Trade Winds move from ___ _ east to west __ and those ocean currents driven by the Westerlies move from _ ___ west to east ___. Choices are: from east to west, from west to east, from north to south, from south to north As the currents encounter land, they are deflected. This is where Earth's rotation comes in to play. Currents in the Northern Hemisphere will be directed to the __ right __ of the intended direction while currents in the Southern Hemisphere will be directed to the __ left __ of the intended direction. Word choices are: left, right, north, south, east, west This produces the main surface ocean circulation patterns referred to as subtropical gyres. Subtropical gyres flow __ clockwise __ in the Northern Hemisphere and _ counterclockwise __ in the Southern Hemisphere. Word choices are: clockwise, counterclockwise The end result is that winds and currents move in the ___ same ____ direction. Word choices are: same, opposite This is the result of the __ Coriolis ___ Effect. Word choices are: Feynman, Coriolis, Wegener, Hawking In both hemispheres, the name "subtropical" derives from the location of the gyre, which is centered at ____ 30° _____ latitude. Choices are: 0°, 30°, 60°, 90° Thus the currents circulate around an atmospheric __ high ___ pressure. Word choices are: low, high

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