Cycle Research: Horizontal Wind Pattern
For this project, we were assigned a weather cycle, in which we had to research our cycle, and answer the specific questions that were given to us. Below, I have attached all of the research I did, that specifically states the main facts about the cycle. My cycle was Horizontal Wind Patterns.
What pattern does wind make moving across the surface of the earth?
Between the 0 longitude and the 30 longitude (trade winds) the wind patterns move from the northeast and southeast to the west. Between the 30 longitude and the 60 longitude, (westerlies) the wind patterns move from the northwest and the southwest to the east. And between the 60 longitude and the top/bottom of the earth (polar easterlies) the wind patterns move from the north and south to the west.
What is the jet stream?
Jet streams are the fast streaming wind that is found in the atmosphere of Earth, and many other planets. The main jet streams on Earth is the westerly winds (which means that the wind flows from west to east). Jet streams are caused by a mix of some planets on their axis, and also their atmospheric heating. Although, other jet streams do exist. During the Northern Hemisphere summer, easterly jet streams can form in tropical regions. Some meteorologists use the location of jet streams to help them when they are announcing the weather forecast.
What is the atmosphere made of?
Well, there are different percentages of what the atmosphere is made of depending on which planet. For Earth, it’s atmosphere is made of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.9% argon, and 0.03% carbon dioxide, with very small percentages of other elements. Our atmosphere also contains water vapor.
What causes wind to move from one place to another?
Air in motion is wind. It is produced by the uneven heating of the earth’s surface by the sun. Since the earth’s surface is made of various water and land formations, it absorbs the sun’s radiation unevenly. There are two specific factors that are necessary to specify wind: speed and direction. As the sun warms the Earth's surface, the atmosphere warms too. Some parts of the Earth receive direct rays from the sun all year and are always warm. Other places receive indirect rays, so the climate is colder. Warm air, which weighs less than cold air, rises. Then cool air moves in and replaces the rising warm air. This movement of air is what makes the wind blow.
What causes high and low pressure in the atmosphere?
The Earth's atmosphere applies a pressure on the surface. Areas of high and low pressure are caused by ascending and descending air. As air warms, it ascends leading to low pressure at the surface. As air cools, it descends leading to high pressure at the surface.
Is there wind in different layers of the atmosphere?
Yes, there is wind in different layers of the atmosphere. In the troposphere (which is the lowest layer of the atmosphere, the circular wind pattern migrates in high and low air pressure areas. The stratosphere is the second lowest layer of the atmosphere, but still has wind in it’s layer of the atmosphere. Same with the mesosphere, even though it is higher, it still as small traces of wind. The last two layers (thermosphere and exosphere), don’t really have traces of wind, because they are so high up in the atmosphere.
What are the names of the different wind patterns?
The names of the different wind patterns are: Polar Easterlies, which blow from the east and north. Westerlies, which blow from the west, going somewhat toward the north. Trade Winds, which blow mostly from the northeast toward the equator. Southeast Trade Winds, which blow from the southeast toward the equator.
Between the 0 longitude and the 30 longitude (trade winds) the wind patterns move from the northeast and southeast to the west. Between the 30 longitude and the 60 longitude, (westerlies) the wind patterns move from the northwest and the southwest to the east. And between the 60 longitude and the top/bottom of the earth (polar easterlies) the wind patterns move from the north and south to the west.
What is the jet stream?
Jet streams are the fast streaming wind that is found in the atmosphere of Earth, and many other planets. The main jet streams on Earth is the westerly winds (which means that the wind flows from west to east). Jet streams are caused by a mix of some planets on their axis, and also their atmospheric heating. Although, other jet streams do exist. During the Northern Hemisphere summer, easterly jet streams can form in tropical regions. Some meteorologists use the location of jet streams to help them when they are announcing the weather forecast.
What is the atmosphere made of?
Well, there are different percentages of what the atmosphere is made of depending on which planet. For Earth, it’s atmosphere is made of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.9% argon, and 0.03% carbon dioxide, with very small percentages of other elements. Our atmosphere also contains water vapor.
What causes wind to move from one place to another?
Air in motion is wind. It is produced by the uneven heating of the earth’s surface by the sun. Since the earth’s surface is made of various water and land formations, it absorbs the sun’s radiation unevenly. There are two specific factors that are necessary to specify wind: speed and direction. As the sun warms the Earth's surface, the atmosphere warms too. Some parts of the Earth receive direct rays from the sun all year and are always warm. Other places receive indirect rays, so the climate is colder. Warm air, which weighs less than cold air, rises. Then cool air moves in and replaces the rising warm air. This movement of air is what makes the wind blow.
What causes high and low pressure in the atmosphere?
The Earth's atmosphere applies a pressure on the surface. Areas of high and low pressure are caused by ascending and descending air. As air warms, it ascends leading to low pressure at the surface. As air cools, it descends leading to high pressure at the surface.
Is there wind in different layers of the atmosphere?
Yes, there is wind in different layers of the atmosphere. In the troposphere (which is the lowest layer of the atmosphere, the circular wind pattern migrates in high and low air pressure areas. The stratosphere is the second lowest layer of the atmosphere, but still has wind in it’s layer of the atmosphere. Same with the mesosphere, even though it is higher, it still as small traces of wind. The last two layers (thermosphere and exosphere), don’t really have traces of wind, because they are so high up in the atmosphere.
What are the names of the different wind patterns?
The names of the different wind patterns are: Polar Easterlies, which blow from the east and north. Westerlies, which blow from the west, going somewhat toward the north. Trade Winds, which blow mostly from the northeast toward the equator. Southeast Trade Winds, which blow from the southeast toward the equator.
Here is my poster that I made, that shows the visual part of how Horizontal Wind Patterns flow