ABSTRACT
The Earth is a rotating sphere which orbits the sun. The equator lies just a few degrees away from being parallel with the plane of the Earth’s orbit. Energy from sunlight strikes the Earth where the high-energy wavelengths of light are absorbed and re-emitted in the form of radiant heat. The primary heating of the atmosphere comes, therefore, from the ground and ocean surfaces. The major wind systems of the Earth result from the fact that masses of air around the equator are forced to rise by ground heating, causing cooler air to move in from higher latitudes, which in turn is replaced by descending air to fill the void. The revolution of the Earth causes winds to be dragged by the surface, thus deflecting their courses. The world’s oceans are also stirred by the winds. The drive provided by the trade winds pushes masses of water up against continental dikes downwind.
