Good-Natured Global Winds

Emma H.

March 21, 2017

1. Main Idea

"Wind and water carry rainfall and the sun's warmth around the world to create different climates."

This means that to create different climates, there needs to be wind as well as water (such as rainfall) to travel around the world. Also, you would not be able to have different climates if you did not have the sun and it's warmth!

2. What is the difference between weather and climate?

The difference between weather and climate is that weather takes place on a day to day basis or over a short period of time. On the other hand, climate is a usual pattern that a certain area takes on over a long period of time. The climate of a particular region is is affected by the wind, the sun, oceans (other bodies of water too,) landforms and people. Understanding climate requires you to look at the extremes of temperature and precipitation of a certain area. For example, if you said that summers in a certain place have temperatures of up to 70? and gets up to 140 inches of rainfall yearly, that would be describing the climate. However, if you said that today is rainy, cold and overcast, that would be describing the weather!

3. In which general direction does the wind blow over North America?

The winds are called southeasterly winds. They blow towards the northeast, but are called southeasterly winds because that is the direction that they come from. The winds that blow over North America in this direction are called the Westerlies. However, near to the tip of Florida, winds area called the Northeasterly trade winds and they blow southwest.

4. What winds did European sailers use to get to South America and the islands north of it?

Sailors used winds called the Northeasterly trade winds to get to the South America. These winds would most likely put them very close to the islands north of South America as well. You could also use the Southeasterly trade winds to get to about the same place, but a little more to the south. These winds would probably be less likely to get you to the northern islands. Overall, the sailors would use the Northeasterly trade winds to get to South America and the islands north of it.

5. How does the tilt of the Earth affect climate?

The tilt of the earth affects the weather's climate partially because of the angle at which the sun's rays hit the Earth. At the Equator, the sun's rays are direct, so this part of the globe is warmer. At the poles, the sun's rays are indirect, so they skim over the poles at angle. Sometimes, due to the tilt, the North Pole may face away from the sun, so there are full days where that part of the Earth may see no sun at all. At another point in the year, this happens to the South Pole as well. Places in the tropics (Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn) almost always have warm weather because the tilt rarely affects them. Because the sun's rays hit directly, the sun is always directly overhead at the Equator at noon. When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, the rays hit it more directly, giving this part of the globe warmer and longer days, also known as summer! After six months, the South Pole is tilted towards the sun, giving the Southern Hemisphere warmer and longer days. At this time, since the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, the rays are indirect, making the days colder and shorter. This is known as winter! North and South Poles are always cool or cold because the sun always hit them indirectly due to the tilt. The rays just skim over the Poles. If the North Pole is tilted towards the sun, them the rays may hit it indirectly all day, so there will be very little light, but it will last all day!

6. How does this relate to the Voyages of Columbus?

This relates in that these are the wind patterns Columbus navigated to get to the West Indies. Columbus knew these wind patterns and where they blew from as well as where they were going! He knew that certain winds would blow him in the direction of "Asia." Also, he sailed on winds that would bring him back to Spain. Looking at a map of Columbus' voyages, the route may not look direct. For one, on the journey back, he veers north. This is so he can catch winds that would direct him back to Spain. Also, at the start of his voyage, he sails along the coastline of Africa before starting to go west. This is because there are winds that follow the pattern Columbus did! The winds hug the coastline of Africa, then go in a pretty straight line towards the west. Columbus had to know the wind patterns before he went on his voyage. If he did not, he may have been caught floating in the ocean, not moving because there was no wind! There were many ways to go to "Asia." Columbus took the way that the wind did. However, if he had sailed straight from Spain at a slight downward slant, it would have been slow sailing, because there are not as strong of winds there. On his voyage back, he also got stuck at 30' North because he was in between winds. Overall, Columbus' voyage relates to wind and wind patterns in multiple ways.

Just in case you missed it in the paragraph above, here is the link to my Columbus project!

Citations:

Meldahl, Keith. "Global Atmospheric Circulation," December 17, 2011, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye45DGkqUkE. Accessed on March 17. 2017.

The Science Asylum (screen name.) "What is the Coriolis Effect?" May 24, 2014, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sayCU1TNyg. Accessed on March 17, 2017.