Wind is caused by unequal heating of the atmosphere by the sun. Most differences in air pressure are caused by unequal heating of the atmosphere. As you learned in the previous section, convection currents from when an area of Earth’s surface is heated by sun’s rays. Air over the heated surface expands and becomes less dense. As the air gets less dens, it’s a pressure decreases. If a nearby are is not heated as much, the air above is the less heated area will be cooler and denser. The cool and dense air has a higher pressure so it flows underneath the less dense air.

Unequal Heating

April 9, 2012 | Shero Naqvi | No Comments | 629 views