The earth rotates toward the East. So, why do weather patterns move from West to East?

Answer 1

This is only true in the temperate zones. In the tropics and polar areas, they generally move east to west.

Tropics: These areas are heated more by the sun than other areas of the earth. Warm tropical air rises, which is replaced by cooler air from the north and south temperate zones. This temperate air flows toward the equator (south in the northern hemisphere and north in the southern), and is deflected west by coriolis forces. (That means that the temperate air is not rotating as rapidly as the land over which it is moving, because it's from a position closer to the earth's axis.)

Temperate zones: All that rising warm air from the tropics has to go somewhere! After reaching higher altitude it gets pushed away from the equator, cools, and sinks again. At that point it is (roughly) along the tropic lines when it sinks. When this sinking air hits the surface, some of it heads toward the equator again, completing the cycle; but a lot of it continues moving away from the equator into the temperate zones. Since this air came from the equator and has a high rotational speed, coriolis force pushes it from west to east.

Poles: Same as in the tropics: cool air flowing toward the equator is pushed eastward by coriolis force.

Answer 2

All I remember from ecology class is that wind patterns are NOT caused by Earth's rotation, they are caused by the sun, and that in some places the wind and weather patterns go from east to west. I'll try to find my old notebook and fill in the rest.

Okay, I can't find my notes, but it was something a little more detailed but similar to this:
http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/archive/nino/global.html

Hope it helps!

Answer 3

there is not one answer to weather pattern movements. Rotation of the earth is only a minor one. since friction between earth and its atmosphere is small but not negligable. In fact, if there were not any other reason for weather patterns, there would be only one climate all around the world, am i wrong?

Answer 4

the way the wind blows relies upon on the movenemt of air between air hundreds extra so than the earth's spin (the earth's spin does reason the Coriolis consequence, which does impression varieties of air circulate, yet it is for a distinctive communicate). Basicaly wind is brought about with the aid of distinction of stress between air hundreds. aspects of decrease air stress tend to suck in air from aspects of better stress. The extra beneficial the version, the tighter the gradient, and the better the wind (that's why the somewhat low pressures modern-day in cyclonic storms like hurricanes and tornadoes generates such intense winds). anyhow, low stress structures interior the northern hemisphere draw air inward in a counterclockwise spiral. those "lows" could be got here across on the middle of any frontal equipment, and that they often song contained in direction of the northern states. meaning it is probably which you're many times on the south component of the circulate. on condition that the pass is counterclockwise, this implies that because of the fact the middle techniques you from the west, you will get a south or southwest wind. because it tracks north of you, your winds would be almost due west. and ultimately, because of the fact the equipment tracks farther east, you will finally end up on the less warm component of the equipment because of the fact the winds shift to the northwest or north (the chilly front occurs on the dividing line between the hotter air being drawn from the south and the less warm air being drawn from the north). If one among those structures ever tracks south of you, you will see easterly winds on the north component of the circulate. yet considering the fact it is way less user-friendly for many states, the westerly development is regularly occurring.

Answer 5

i took the class a long time ago but it has to do with the sun heating the earth and the weather patterns all depend on what lattitude you are on

Answer 6

Uhh..you just answered your own question. Think about it

Answer 7

same reason!!!
durrr