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GLY150:
INTRODUCTION TO OCEANOGRAPHY
University of North Carolina Wilmington
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Lecture
Outline
Global
Wind Patterns
I.
Characteristics of Air
- Composition
- Nitrogen
- Oxygen
- Carbon
dioxide
- Water vapor
- Density
- Temperature
- Water vapor
- Pressure
II. Winds
on a Nonrotating Earth
- Low
pressure, rising air at equator; high pressure, sinking
air at poles
- Two
convective cells develop
- Acts to
distribute excess heat in equatorial region to
higher latitudes
III.
Effects of Rotation
- Coriolis
effect
- Different
parts of earth rotating at different speeds
- Fastest
at equator ~1600 km/hr
- No
rotation at poles
- Rate
of change of rotational velocity per
degree of latitude increases towards
poles
- Direction
of deflection
- To
right in northern hemisphere
- To
left in southern hemisphere
- Magnitude
of deflection
- Dependent
on length of time body is in motion
(speed)
- Dependent
on initial location of moving body
- Wind
bands
- NE and SE
trade winds
- Westerlies
- Polar
easterlies
- Low
pressure systems/erratic winds
IV.
Effects of Continents and Seasons
- High
Pressure/low pressure cells
- Rotation
sense
- Location in
winter and summer seasons
- Topographic
effects
- Onshore and
offshore breezes
Some
helpful links relevant to these lectures:
USA Today Wind Basics
Coriolis Effect
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