WIND & PRESSURE SYSTEMS

Prepared by :
2/O Mendoza,Cesar Jr. A.
 WIND

Wind is the natural movement of air in the Earth's atmosphere. It is caused by

differences in atmospheric pressure, which is the force exerted by the weight
of the air molecules in a given area. The greater the difference in pressure
between two areas, the stronger the wind will be as air moves from high
pressure areas to low pressure areas.
 PRESSURE SYSTEMS
Pressure systems refer to areas in the Earth's atmosphere where the air pressure is
different from the surrounding areas. There are two main types of pressure systems:
high-pressure systems and low-pressure systems.

1. High-pressure systems are associated with sinking air, which leads to clear skies,
dry conditions, and stable weather. Air flows out from the high-pressure center,
clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern
Hemisphere.

2. Low-pressure systems, on the other hand, are associated with rising air, which leads
to cloudy and potentially stormy conditions. Air flows into the low-pressure center,
counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern
Hemisphere.
 GLOBAL WIND CIRCULATION

Global wind circulation refers to the large-scale pattern of wind flow that occurs
across the Earth's surface. This pattern is driven by the uneven heating of the
Earth's surface by the sun, which creates differences in air pressure and
temperature.
There are three major cells of global wind circulation, known as the Hadley cell,
Ferrel cell, and Polar cell. These cells are each characterized by a circular pattern of
air flow, with rising air near the equator, sinking air in the subtropics, and poleward
flow in the upper atmosphere.
 3 MAJOR CELLS OF GLOBAL WIND CIRCULATION

1. Hadley cell: The Hadley cell is located near the equator and is the largest and most
important cell. It is named after George Hadley, who first described it in the 18th
century. The Hadley cell is characterized by rising warm air at the equator, which
moves towards the poles at high altitudes, and then descends in the subtropics,
around 30 degrees latitude. The descending air creates high-pressure zones, which
lead to the formation of the trade winds in the tropics.

2. Ferrel cell: The Ferrel cell is located between the Hadley cell and the Polar cell, around
30 to 60 degrees latitude in both hemispheres. It is named after William Ferrel, who
first described it in the 19th century. The Ferrel cell is characterized by rising cool air in
the mid-latitudes, which moves towards the poles at high altitudes, and then descends
in the subtropics. The descending air creates a low-pressure zone, which contributes
to the formation of mid-latitude cyclones.
 3 MAJOR CELLS OF GLOBAL WIND CIRCULATION

3. Polar cell: The Polar cell is located near the poles, around 60 to 90 degrees latitude in
both hemispheres. It is characterized by sinking cold air at the poles, which moves
towards the mid-latitudes at low altitudes, and then rises in the Ferrel cell. The rising
air creates a low-pressure zone, which leads to the formation of polar easterlies.

These three cells interact with each other to create a complex global pattern of wind flow,
known as the atmospheric circulation. This pattern influences the formation of weather
patterns, such as tropical storms, mid-latitude cyclones, and the monsoon. The global wind
circulation also plays a key role in the distribution of heat and moisture across the planet,
which has important impacts on climate and ecosystems.
 LOCAL WIND CIRCULATION

 Local wind circulations are small-scale wind systems that occur over
relatively small areas, such as cities, valleys, and mountain slopes.
These winds are driven by differences in temperature and pressure
within the local environment, and can have important effects on local
weather, air quality, and urban planning.
 TYPES OF LOCAL WIND
There are several types of local wind that occur in different regions and under different weather
conditions. Some common types of local winds include:

1. Sea breeze: A local wind that blows from the sea towards the land during the daytime. This
wind is caused by the difference in temperature between the land and sea, with the land
heating up more quickly than the sea.

2. Land breeze: A local wind that blows from the land towards the sea during the nighttime.
This wind is caused by the opposite temperature difference between the land and sea, with
the land cooling down more quickly than the sea.

3. Valley breeze: A local wind that blows up the slope of a valley during the daytime. This wind
is caused by the difference in temperature between the valley floor and the surrounding
slopes, with the slopes heating up more quickly than the valley floor.
 TYPES OF LOCAL WIND

4. Mountain breeze: A local wind that blows down the slope of a mountain during the nighttime. This
wind is caused by the opposite temperature difference between the mountain slope and the
surrounding valley floor, with the mountain slope cooling down more quickly than the valley floor.

5. Katabatic wind: A local wind that occurs when dense, cold air flows down from a high elevation to
a lower elevation, usually at night. This wind is caused by the cooling of air at higher elevations,
which increases its density and causes it to flow downhill.

6. Chinook wind: A warm, dry wind that blows down the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains in
North America. This wind is caused by the compression and heating of air as it flows down the
mountain slope.

7. Santa Ana wind: A dry, warm wind that blows towards the coast of Southern California in the
United States. This wind is caused by the high-pressure systems that develop over the Great
Basin region of the western United States, which cause dry air to flow towards the coast.
 REGIONAL WINDS

 Regional winds are larger-scale wind systems that occur over broader
regions, often driven by large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns,
such as the global wind belts or regional pressure systems. These
winds can have important effects on climate, weather, and ecosystems,
and are important to understand for activities like agriculture,
transportation, and renewable energy.
 TYPES OF REGIONAL WINDS
1. Monsoons: Large-scale wind systems that occur in certain regions of the world,
such as India and Southeast Asia. These winds are characterized by seasonal
changes in wind direction and intensity, and can have important effects on
agriculture, water resources, and natural disasters like floods and landslides.

2. Trade winds: Steady winds that blow from east to west in the tropical regions of the
world, between about 5 and 30 degrees latitude. These winds are driven by the
Coriolis effect and the temperature difference between the equator and the poles,
and have important effects on ocean currents, navigation, and trade routes.

3. Prevailing westerlies: Strong, westerly winds that blow in the mid-latitudes of the
world, between about 30 and 60 degrees latitude. These winds are driven by the
rotation of the earth and the temperature difference between the equator and the
poles, and have important effects on weather patterns, ocean currents, and air
pollution transport.
 TYPES OF REGIONAL WINDS

4. Polar easterlies: Cold, dry winds that blow from the east in the high latitudes of the
world, between about 60 and 90 degrees latitude. These winds are driven by the
temperature difference between the polar regions and the mid-latitudes, and have
important effects on polar climate, ice formation, and air pollution transport.

5. Jet streams: Fast-moving, narrow bands of wind that occur at high altitudes in the
atmosphere, often between 10 and 15 kilometers above the surface. These winds
are driven by the temperature difference between the tropics and the poles, and can
have important effects on weather patterns and aviation.
 EFFECTS OF MONSOON TO WEATHER CONDITION

Monsoons can have significant effects on weather conditions, both positive and
negative. Here are some of the main effects of monsoons:

1. Heavy rainfall: Monsoons are characterized by seasonal changes in wind

direction and intensity, which can bring heavy rainfall to certain regions of the
world, especially in Asia and Africa. This rainfall can be beneficial for agriculture,
but it can also cause flooding, landslides, and other natural disasters.

2. Drought: In some regions, monsoons can also lead to drought conditions,

especially during the transition periods between the wet and dry seasons. This
can have negative impacts on agriculture, water resources, and local economies.

3. Temperature changes: Monsoons can also bring changes in temperature, with

cooler and more humid conditions during the wet season, and hotter and drier
conditions during the dry season. This can affect human health, energy demand,
and other factors.
 EFFECTS OF MONSOON TO WEATHER CONDITION

4. Air quality: Monsoons can have important effects on air quality, both
positive and negative. On one hand, heavy rainfall can help to clear
pollutants from the air, especially in urban areas. On the other hand,
monsoons can also lead to increased humidity and stagnant air, which can
worsen air pollution in some cases.

5. Ecological impacts: Monsoons can also have significant impacts on

ecosystems, including changes in plant growth, wildlife behavior, and water
availability. These impacts can have ripple effects on human societies,
including impacts on food security, disease outbreaks, and other factors.
 GEOSTROPHIC WIND

 Geostrophic wind is a theoretical concept used in meteorology to describe the

motion of air in the atmosphere. It is a balance between the pressure gradient force
and the Coriolis effect, which causes the wind to flow parallel to the isobars (lines of
constant pressure) at a constant speed.

 The geostrophic wind is important in weather forecasting because it provides a

theoretical baseline for the motion of air in the atmosphere. In reality, other factors
such as friction, turbulence, and the effects of the Earth's surface can affect the wind
speed and direction, but the geostrophic wind provides a useful starting point for
understanding atmospheric motion. Additionally, the concept of geostrophic wind is
used in many weather maps and charts to show the movement of air masses and
weather systems.
 CORIOLIS EFFECT

The Coriolis effect is a phenomenon that describes the deflection of objects, including
air and water, that are moving on the surface of the rotating Earth. It is named after
the French mathematician Gaspard-Gustave de Coriolis, who first described it in the
19th century.

The Coriolis effect occurs because the Earth rotates on its axis from west to east. This
rotation creates a difference in the speed of objects at different latitudes. Specifically,
objects at the equator move faster than objects at higher latitudes. When objects,
such as air molecules or water droplets, move from one latitude to another, they
conserve their momentum, causing them to appear to deflect to the right in the
Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.
 CORIOLIS EFFECT

The Coriolis effect has important consequences for weather patterns, ocean
currents, and other phenomena that involve the motion of fluids on the Earth's
surface. In the atmosphere, the Coriolis effect causes the rotation of large-scale
weather systems, such as hurricanes, cyclones, and anticyclones. It also
contributes to the formation of jet streams and the behavior of other wind patterns.

In the ocean, the Coriolis effect causes the formation of large-scale ocean
currents, such as the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean and the Kuroshio Current
in the Pacific Ocean. It also contributes to the formation of ocean gyres, which are
large circular patterns of water circulation that span entire ocean basins.
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