Have you ever wondered that what causes the Wind Patterns?

What causes wind patterns?

Wind paths, ocean currents, and even airplanes are

governed by the same invisible force

Winds in our atmosphere do not travel in straight lines due to a phenomenon is known as the Coriolis effect. As the Earth spins on its axis, the motion deflects the air above it. The planet’s rotation is faster at the equator because this is where the Earth is broadest. This difference in speed creates the deflection – for example, if you were to project a ball from the equator to the North Pole it would appear to curve off-course. If Earth didn’t spin like this, air on the planet would solely circulate back and forth between the high-pressure poles and the low-pressure equator. When the rotation of the Earth is joined into the mix, it causes the air in the Northern Hemisphere to be deflected to the right, and air in the Southern Hemisphere to the left, away from the equator. As a result, winds circulate in cells.

It’s this effect that causes the rotational shapes of large storms that form over oceans. The low pressure of cyclones sucks air into the center, which then deflects thanks to the Coriolis force. This explains why cyclones that form in the Northern Hemisphere spin anti-clockwise, while in the Southern Hemisphere they rotate clockwise. The opposite is true of high-pressure storms, or anticyclones, which rotate clockwise in the north and anti-clockwise in the south. The Coriolis effect is so prevalent that it also governs the movement of long-range airborne objects such as airplanes and missiles. Pilots have to adjust their flight routes to compensate for the deflection.

Global Winds

1 Jet streams

High-altitude jet streams flow between cells. They are strong winds that move weather systems.

2 Earth spins

At the equator, the Earth is spinning at a speed of 1,670km/h.

3 Tropical hurricane

A tropical hurricane forms near the Caribbean. The Coriolis effect contributes to the swirling system.

4 Wind cells

Each hemisphere has three cells, where air circulates through the depth of the troposphere

5 The equator

This is the only place on Earth where the Coriolis force is not felt.

 6 Air movement

As wind circulates in cells, the Coriolis force deflects the air to form prevailing winds such as the trade winds.