air pressureAir pressure is the force exerted by the weight of a column of air on a surface. It is measured by hPa (hecto-Pascal) and N (Newtons). The diagram of air pressure amount in the atmosphere is shown to the right.
differences, and the absorption of the energyAs discussed in the previous section, since the Earth is tilted, there is an unequal share of solar energy. This also means that the amount of air pressure is also unequally distributed.
Earth's surface also has the ability to absorb/reflect solar energy.
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Wind
So, having said that pressure differences are present, what is so important?
The answer is, wind. Wind is the movement of air that occurs when there are pressure differences within the atmosphere. Wind always travels towards low pressure areas to high pressure areas.
Windspeed is determined by the difference of the air pressure between the high and the low pressure areas. The higher the difference, the faster the wind.
Wind also has the ability to create suction pressure around objects, and also to carry particles to one place to another (wind erosion).
There are many types of winds, in which all of them follows the principle above.
The answer is, wind. Wind is the movement of air that occurs when there are pressure differences within the atmosphere. Wind always travels towards low pressure areas to high pressure areas.
Windspeed is determined by the difference of the air pressure between the high and the low pressure areas. The higher the difference, the faster the wind.
Wind also has the ability to create suction pressure around objects, and also to carry particles to one place to another (wind erosion).
There are many types of winds, in which all of them follows the principle above.
Local windsLocal wind movement is the movement of wind limited to a particular area. This is caused by regional unequal heating. Examples of local winds include;
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Global windsGlobal wind movement is the mass movement of wind in a global scale, indicating a massive movement of wind from one region to another, throughout the planet. This is caused by the global unequal heating.
These winds move in a series of bands known as the convection cells. As explained before, convection is the rise of hot air, and the sinking of cold air. This is caused by the temperature differences of the planet. Examples of global winds include: Polar easterlies, westerlies, and trade winds. |
jet streamJet stream is the rapid movement of air masses at high altitudes in the atmosphere. As explained before, there are pressure/temperature differences in the atmosphere, so therefore wind occurs.
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coriolis effectThe Coriolis Effect is the apparent curvature that happens when an object is moving relative to a stationary surface. Since the Earth's surface is curved, this effect always happen when there is a mass movement of air, thus determining the directions the air will travel towards.
This effect also affects all movements on air- bird migratory patterns, bullet paths over a long distance, and plane flight paths. |