Wind and Global Circulation
Global winds are driven by the uneven heating of Earth, which creates circulating cells of air between the Equator and the poles.
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Global winds are driven by the uneven heating of Earth, which creates circulating cells of air between the Equator and the poles.
- Trade winds blow towards the Equator
- Warm air rises at the Equator
- Coriolis effect bends winds
🧠 Quick quiz
Three questions. Score 2 or more to complete the topic.
What is Wind and Global Circulation?
Within Geography, which covers maps, landforms, weather, climate, population and settlements: understand how our planet and people connect, this topic explains Wind and Global Circulation. Geography explains how places, people and natural processes connect, so each topic here combines a clear definition with a visual model.
Check that you can explain Wind and Global Circulation in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.
Understanding Wind and Global Circulation helps you explain patterns on maps and in the news, and make reasoned decisions about places and environments.
Wind and Global Circulation in detail
Global atmospheric circulation moves heat from the Equator to the poles in three cells in each hemisphere: Hadley, Ferrel and Polar. At the Equator, hot air rises, creating low pressure and heavy rain, while at about 30° the air sinks, creating high pressure and deserts.
Surface winds blow from high to low pressure, but the Earth's rotation deflects them (the Coriolis effect), producing the trade winds and the westerlies. Jet streams are fast winds high in the atmosphere. The pattern explains where rainforests, deserts and storm tracks are found, and local winds such as sea breezes also occur.
How the interactive helps you understand Wind and Global Circulation
Watch the Earth model in the interactive. Use any sliders or buttons it offers to change the values and see how the Earth model responds.
Before you change anything, predict the result. Then change one value at a time and check whether your prediction was right. This is a quick way to build a correct mental model of Wind and Global Circulation.
Real-life uses and examples
- Describe a real place where Wind and Global Circulation can be seen, using a map or photograph.
- Explain how Wind and Global Circulation affects people, jobs and land use in a region.
- Support an answer about Wind and Global Circulation with a named case study and specific evidence.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Writing general statements without a named place or example.
- Mixing up cause, effect and consequence when you explain Wind and Global Circulation.
- Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.
Frequently asked questions about Wind and Global Circulation
What is Wind and Global Circulation?
Global winds are driven by the uneven heating of Earth, which creates circulating cells of air between the Equator and the poles.
What are the most important points about Wind and Global Circulation?
The main points are: Trade winds blow towards the Equator; Warm air rises at the Equator; Coriolis effect bends winds.
Why is Wind and Global Circulation useful?
Understanding Wind and Global Circulation helps you explain patterns on maps and in the news, and make reasoned decisions about places and environments.
How can I practise Wind and Global Circulation?
Open the interactive at the top of this page and change the controls one at a time. Predict the result before each change, then take the three-question quiz. A score of two or more marks the topic as complete on this device.
Which topics are related to Wind and Global Circulation?
Related topics in Geography include Clouds, Tropical Rainforests, Climate Change Causes.