Transcript I. Global Winds

• Aim: What are global winds and ocean
currents?
• Do Now: The weather forecaster has
indicated that a low pressure system is
moving into our area after having a period of
high pressure in the area.
Describe what changes will occur as the low
pressure system moves in. Talk about temp,
RH, pressure, wind and other important
changes.
1)Weather during the High pressure system
2)Weather during the Low pressure system
I. Global Winds:
- moves warm air toward high latitudes
(poles) and cool air toward the equator.
• Warm, moist air
from the equator
travels to the poles.
• Cool, dry air from
the poles travels to
the equator
**This circulation balances/mixes the
unequal heating that occurs on our planet.
• If a latitude is wet then the pressure at
that latitude is low.
• If a latitude is dry then the pressure at that
latitude is high.
ESRT – Page 14
II. Surface Ocean Current:
- shallow currents are created by the
wind.
- Prevailing winds (winds that blow in one
direction ) create ocean currents that flow
in the same direction.
ESRT – Page 4
• Look at page 4 in your Earth Science
Reference Table and answer the
following questions.
1 - What current flows on the east coast
of North America?
2 - What current is located between 400S
and 600S?
3 - What happens to cool water currents
as they near the Equator?