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Wind and the Earth
Mrs. Gimbert's science class
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Wind | Moving air caused by differences in air pressure |
| Coriolis Effect | The apparent curving of straight-moving objects caused by Earth's rotation |
| Global Winds | The combination of convection cells found at every 30 degrees latitude and the Coriolis Effect producing patterns of air circulation. |
| Polar Easterlies | Prevailing winds that blow from east to west between 60 degrees and 90 degrees latitude in both hemispheres |
| Prevailing Westerlies | Prevailing winds that blow from west to east between 30 degrees and 60 degrees latitude in both hemispheres |
| Trade Winds | Prevailing winds that blow northeast from 30 degrees north to the equator and 30 degrees south to the equator |
| Doldrums | A calm area of very weak winds where trade winds of the Northern and Southern hemisphere meet, somewhere along the equator |
| Horse Latitudes | An unusually calm area of sinking high pressure at about 30 degrees north and 30 degrees south latitude |
| Jet Stream | A narrow belt of strong winds that blow in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere |