Worksheet Global Winds and Pressure Belts - Global Winds and ... - Free Printable
Educational worksheet: Worksheet Global Winds and Pressure Belts - Global Winds and .... Download and print for classroom or home learning activities.
PNG
1200×1553
263.2 KB
Free · Personal Use
Quality Assured by Worksheets Library Team
Reviewed for educational accuracy and age-appropriateness
ID: #683800
⭐
Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Worksheet Global Winds and Pressure Belts - Global Winds and ...
▼
Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Worksheet Global Winds and Pressure Belts - Global Winds and ...
Let's solve each question on the Global Winds and Pressure Belts Worksheet using the diagram and principles of atmospheric circulation.
---
✔ Answer: Trade winds
- The horse latitudes are around 30°N and 30°S, where high pressure exists.
- The doldrums (or equatorial low) are near the equator (0°), a region of low pressure.
- Air flows from high to low pressure, so winds move from the horse latitudes toward the equator.
- These winds are deflected by the Coriolis effect:
- In the Northern Hemisphere: Northeast Trades
- In the Southern Hemisphere: Southeast Trades
- Together, they're known as the trade winds.
---
✔ Answer: Because the sun’s rays strike the equator directly, warming the air and causing it to rise. As warm air rises, it creates a low-pressure zone at the surface.
- Direct sunlight → air heats up → expands and rises → lower pressure at surface → forms Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) or doldrums.
- This rising air contributes to frequent thunderstorms and rain in equatorial regions.
---
✔ Answer: sinking
- At 30°N and 30°S, air descends due to the subtropical highs.
- This occurs because the Hadley Cell circulation brings air down after it rises at the equator, moves poleward aloft, cools, and sinks.
- Sinking air leads to dry conditions and high pressure → horse latitudes.
---
✔ Answer: Polar easterlies
- Between 60° and 90° (both north and south), the prevailing winds are the polar easterlies.
- These blow from the polar high-pressure areas toward the subpolar lows at 60°.
- They are deflected by the Coriolis effect into an easterly direction (from the east).
---
✔ Answer: sinking
- As explained above, the horse latitudes (around 30°N/S) are high-pressure zones where air sinks.
- This sinking air suppresses cloud formation and leads to arid climates (e.g., deserts like Sahara).
---
✔ Answer: converging
- Near the equator, the trade winds from both hemispheres meet.
- The northeast trades (NH) and southeast trades (SH) converge at the equator → this is called the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).
- This convergence causes air to rise, forming clouds and storms → low pressure and high precipitation.
---
✔ Answer: Around 30°N and 30°S
- These are the horse latitudes, where sinking air dominates.
- Sinking air warms and dries, leading to arid conditions.
- Examples: Sahara Desert (30°N), Atacama Desert (30°S).
---
✔ Answer: Polar easterlies
- 65°N is within the polar region, between 60°N and 90°N.
- This area is influenced by polar easterlies, which blow from the polar high toward the subpolar low at 60°N.
---
✔ Answer: Southeast trades
- 22°S is between the equator and 30°S → part of the trade wind belt in the Southern Hemisphere.
- The southeast trades blow from the southeast toward the equator.
---
✔ Answer: Northeast trades
- 20°N is just north of the equator, within the northeast trade wind belt.
- These winds originate from the subtropical high at 30°N and blow toward the equator.
---
✔ Answer: Prevailing westerlies
- 37°N falls between 30°N and 60°N, which is the prevailing westerlies zone.
- These winds blow from the west to the east in the mid-latitudes.
- They are responsible for most weather patterns in the U.S. and Europe.
---
| Question | Answer |
|--------|--------|
| 1 | Trade winds |
| 2 | Warm air rises at the equator, creating low pressure |
| 3 | sinking |
| 4 | Polar easterlies |
| 5 | sinking |
| 6 | converging |
| 7 | Around 30°N and 30°S |
| 8 | Polar easterlies |
| 9 | Southeast trades |
| 10 | Northeast trades |
| 11 | Prevailing westerlies |
---
This worksheet helps illustrate how Earth’s rotation, temperature differences, and pressure systems create consistent wind patterns that influence climate and weather globally.
---
1. Winds that flow from the horse latitudes toward the doldrums are called the _________________.
✔ Answer: Trade winds
- The horse latitudes are around 30°N and 30°S, where high pressure exists.
- The doldrums (or equatorial low) are near the equator (0°), a region of low pressure.
- Air flows from high to low pressure, so winds move from the horse latitudes toward the equator.
- These winds are deflected by the Coriolis effect:
- In the Northern Hemisphere: Northeast Trades
- In the Southern Hemisphere: Southeast Trades
- Together, they're known as the trade winds.
---
2. Why is the equator a low pressure area?
✔ Answer: Because the sun’s rays strike the equator directly, warming the air and causing it to rise. As warm air rises, it creates a low-pressure zone at the surface.
- Direct sunlight → air heats up → expands and rises → lower pressure at surface → forms Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) or doldrums.
- This rising air contributes to frequent thunderstorms and rain in equatorial regions.
---
3. At 30°S latitude, the air is rising/sinking. (circle one)
✔ Answer: sinking
- At 30°N and 30°S, air descends due to the subtropical highs.
- This occurs because the Hadley Cell circulation brings air down after it rises at the equator, moves poleward aloft, cools, and sinks.
- Sinking air leads to dry conditions and high pressure → horse latitudes.
---
4. What is the name of the global wind located between 60° and 90° latitude?
✔ Answer: Polar easterlies
- Between 60° and 90° (both north and south), the prevailing winds are the polar easterlies.
- These blow from the polar high-pressure areas toward the subpolar lows at 60°.
- They are deflected by the Coriolis effect into an easterly direction (from the east).
---
5. Air at the horse latitudes is sinking/rising. (circle one)
✔ Answer: sinking
- As explained above, the horse latitudes (around 30°N/S) are high-pressure zones where air sinks.
- This sinking air suppresses cloud formation and leads to arid climates (e.g., deserts like Sahara).
---
6. Winds at the equator are converging or diverging?
✔ Answer: converging
- Near the equator, the trade winds from both hemispheres meet.
- The northeast trades (NH) and southeast trades (SH) converge at the equator → this is called the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).
- This convergence causes air to rise, forming clouds and storms → low pressure and high precipitation.
---
7. Desert climates would be found at which latitudes?
✔ Answer: Around 30°N and 30°S
- These are the horse latitudes, where sinking air dominates.
- Sinking air warms and dries, leading to arid conditions.
- Examples: Sahara Desert (30°N), Atacama Desert (30°S).
---
8. Nome, Alaska (65° N)
✔ Answer: Polar easterlies
- 65°N is within the polar region, between 60°N and 90°N.
- This area is influenced by polar easterlies, which blow from the polar high toward the subpolar low at 60°N.
---
9. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (22° S)
✔ Answer: Southeast trades
- 22°S is between the equator and 30°S → part of the trade wind belt in the Southern Hemisphere.
- The southeast trades blow from the southeast toward the equator.
---
10. Mexico City, Mexico (20° N)
✔ Answer: Northeast trades
- 20°N is just north of the equator, within the northeast trade wind belt.
- These winds originate from the subtropical high at 30°N and blow toward the equator.
---
11. Ashburn, Virginia (37° N)
✔ Answer: Prevailing westerlies
- 37°N falls between 30°N and 60°N, which is the prevailing westerlies zone.
- These winds blow from the west to the east in the mid-latitudes.
- They are responsible for most weather patterns in the U.S. and Europe.
---
✔ Final Answers Summary:
| Question | Answer |
|--------|--------|
| 1 | Trade winds |
| 2 | Warm air rises at the equator, creating low pressure |
| 3 | sinking |
| 4 | Polar easterlies |
| 5 | sinking |
| 6 | converging |
| 7 | Around 30°N and 30°S |
| 8 | Polar easterlies |
| 9 | Southeast trades |
| 10 | Northeast trades |
| 11 | Prevailing westerlies |
---
This worksheet helps illustrate how Earth’s rotation, temperature differences, and pressure systems create consistent wind patterns that influence climate and weather globally.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of winds worksheet answers.
