REGIONAL WINDS

BELL-RINGER: WHAT DO WE USE TO MEASURE

AIR PRESSURE? WHAT ARE GLOBAL WINDS?

LAND AND SEA

Land heats- air heats expands and rises- creates low
pressure
Cool air over water moves toward warmer land and lower
air pressure
Process creates a breeze

VALLEY AND MOUNTAIN BREEZE

Air on the slopes of mountains is heated more than the air

along the valley- less dense and moves up

After sunset, pattern reverses: air on the slopes cools
more rapidly- more dense and moves down

PREVAILING WIND

Most common wind

direction
US- Westerlies (west to

east)

ANEMOMETER

Measures wind speed

EL NIO

Warming of the ocean in Eastern and Central

Pacific
Every 3-7 years
Extreme weather

NORMAL CONDITIONS

EL NIO CONDITIONS

LA NINA

Colder than normal

temperatures in the Pacific

During a La Nia year,
winter temperatures are
warmer than normal in the
Southeast and cooler than
normal in the Northwest.