How is wind caused on the earth's surface?

Answer 1

If moisture is in the air, it takes up space that air is usually in. Air is forced up in the atmosphere where it cools off quickly, and sinks. Since there is less space in the atmosphere, the air is denser, creating air pressure.

Answer 2

Wind is caused by the uneven heating of the Earth's surface by the sun. As air warms, it becomes less dense and rises, creating areas of low pressure. Cooler, denser air then rushes in to fill these areas, creating wind. Earth's rotation also plays a role in the direction of wind patterns.

Answer 3

Basic answer: Solar radiation and the Coriolos effect.

Solar radiation causes differential heating of the surface of the Earth. Solar radiation heats the surface of the Earth with varying intensity depending on location, which in turn warms the air near its surface due to ambient heat. As air heats up and expands, its pressure decreases (PV=nRT). Air naturally moves from areas of high pressure to low pressure, creating wind.

The "major" wind currents, like the jetstream, are a result of the phenomenon described above on a larger scale (global). Areas near the equator receive much more solar radiation on a daily basis than areas near the poles. This warm air from the equator wants to move and mix with colder air near the poles. Also affecting this pattern is the difference in solar radiation absorbed by the oceans and continents. Solid land masses are heated and cooled more easily than large bodies of water. Other factors affecting the amount of solar radiation received include the tilt of the Earth relative to the sun (seasons), and the eccentricity of the Earth's orbit (the distance from the sun to the Earth varies. when they are close together, solar radiation increases).

In fact, ocean currents also are created by differences in solar radiation and the Coriolis effect.

If you really want to go into more detail about solar radiation, you may consider the albedo of different surfaces of the Earth. Albedo is the ability of a surface to reflect light (or the ability to reflect solar radiation). For example, the albedo of a glacier or snow field is very high compared to the albedo of a forest. Generally, the darker a surface is, the less light it will reflect. So, not only do areas near the equator receive more solar radiation, they also typically absorb a higher percentage of it when compared to areas near the poles (rain forests vs. glaciers and snow covered areas).

The Coriolis effect describes some aspects of the interaction between the surface of the Earth and its atmosphere as two separate entities. As the Earth rotates, it exerts a frictional force on the atmosphere, which sort of drag the atmosphere along with the surface of the Earth. This dragging effect causes wind to be deflected in a certain manner (do a web search for more info). The Coriolis effect varies with latitude. The radius of the Earth (measured east-west) is greatest at the equator. So, areas near the equator have a higher velocity as the Earth spins compared to more stagnant areas near the poles (think of the spokes on a wheel - velocity increases further away from the center of the wheel). The Coriolis effect explains why hurricanes and other low pressure systems rotate counter-clockwise in the Northern hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

Answer 4

Differences in the temperature of the air.

Answer 5

The distinct wind patterns on earth's surface are created by Coriolis Effect. Coriolis Effect is the deflection of moving objects.

Answer 6

Surface Temperaturedifferences in turn cause pressure differences. Higher altitudes are cooler than lower altitudes due to differences in compressional heating.

Answer 7

In the air there is hot air and cool air. Hot air rises while cool air falls. This rising and falling action of the air causes the air to move and create wind.

Answer 8

The difference in pressure from one point to another is what causes the wind. The wind generally moves from a place with a high pressure to a low pressure.

Answer 9

The flow of air caused by blank and the coriolis effect created distinct wind patterns o n Earth's surface, different in heating.

Answer 10

wind patterns