● What is the difference between the trade winds and the polar easterlies?
● What does the Coriolis effect describe?
● What causes wind?
- The trade winds are persistent easterly winds that flow towards the equator in both the northern and southern hemispheres. They are located between 30 degrees latitude and the equator. The polar easterlies, on the other hand, are cold prevailing winds that blow from the east to the west near the poles in both hemispheres. They are located between 60 and 90 degrees latitude.
- The Coriolis effect describes the deflection of moving objects (such as wind, ocean currents, or projectiles) to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere due to the rotation of the Earth. This effect is caused by the Earth's rotation and causes objects to veer off their original path.
- Wind is caused by the uneven heating of the Earth's surface by the sun. When air is heated, it becomes less dense and rises, creating a region of low pressure. The surrounding cooler, denser air then moves in to fill the void, creating wind. The Coriolis effect also influences the direction of wind, causing it to curve rather than move in a straight line.