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Science help needed...

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meg_evonne:
I think Mrs. Geek may have hit it right on the head.  ty from the bottom of my heart

I've remembered that I have a meterologist as a client at the university that I could bug if need be.  :-)

The Mrs Geek:
you're welcome.  I don't remember much about my earth science class, but I do remember discussing in Physical Chemistry about Thermodynamics and gas flow.  Meterologist would be a good brain pick.  Good luck!

Franzeska:

--- Quote from: meg_evonne on April 14, 2008, 02:45:55 PM ---Thanks Dikaion, very close but no banana, as they say.

I'm old enough that the concept might have been disproven by now.  It's those high atmosphere winds that I'm referring to, however I'm pretty sure that the winds are strongest or fastest near the equator, and slower as you approach the poles.  As I understand the earth is not perfectly round, but sort of squashed outwards near the equator.  Does that same thing happen to the atmosphere--thus causing it to reach higher speeds at that equator.  I don't know how well I'm explaining the concept.

I'll keep scrounging around on internet and hope something pops up.  If not, I'll find an old, retired physics professor who will tell me it was one of those facts in science that didn't hold up over the years.

--- End quote ---

I see what you're asking now.  I don't know if you're right about the specifics, but something like this does happen.  I think if you look up tradewinds, you should find a description.

Quantus:
The idea of winds traveling faster at the equator than the poles works because the surface of the globe is actually moving faster than it is nearer to the axis of rotation.   That works ok on a small scale like the gold liquid globe, but not as well for a planet sized thing that has much more complex flow system. 

As to the whole Warmer air travels faster than cold, its actually that waves travel faster in colder air than warmer ones, because its speed of sound is increased.  The air movement itself, windspeed wise, is unaffected. 

Thats as far as the pure fluid flow of it goes.  Weather patterns are something different entirely

QT
Mechanical Engineer

Adam:
These two pages cover it quite well:
http://wings.avkids.com/Book/Atmosphere/instructor/wind-01.html
http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/7n.html

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