1. what causes wind to blow and what are global wind patterns?

Brief Explanations:

Wind forms due to differences in atmospheric pressure, driven by uneven solar heating of Earth's surface (warmer air rises, creating low pressure; cooler air sinks, creating high pressure). Air flows from high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas, which is wind. Global wind patterns are large-scale, consistent wind systems shaped by this pressure difference plus the Coriolis effect (Earth's rotation deflecting wind direction). The main global wind belts are:

1. Trade Winds: Steady winds blowing from subtropical high-pressure zones toward the equatorial low-pressure zone (Intertropical Convergence Zone), deflected to the northeast in the Northern Hemisphere and southeast in the Southern Hemisphere.
2. Westerlies: Winds blowing from subtropical high-pressure zones toward subpolar low-pressure zones, deflected to the southwest in the Northern Hemisphere and northwest in the Southern Hemisphere; they dominate mid-latitudes.
3. Polar Easterlies: Cold winds blowing from polar high-pressure zones toward subpolar low-pressure zones, deflected to the northeast in the Northern Hemisphere and southeast in the Southern Hemisphere. Additionally, there are calm, high-pressure zones: the Horse Latitudes (subtropical) and the Polar Highs, plus the doldrums (calm near the equator where trade winds meet).

Answer:

What causes wind to blow:

Wind is caused by differences in atmospheric air pressure, which originate from uneven solar heating of Earth's surface. Air flows from regions of high air pressure (cooler, denser air that sinks) to regions of low air pressure (warmer, less dense air that rises), creating horizontal air movement known as wind.

What are global wind patterns:

Global wind patterns are large, consistent wind systems shaped by pressure differences and the Coriolis effect (Earth's rotation deflecting wind direction). The primary global wind belts are:

1. Trade Winds: Steady winds blowing from subtropical high-pressure zones toward the equatorial low-pressure zone (doldrums), deflected to the northeast (Northern Hemisphere) and southeast (Southern Hemisphere).
2. Westerlies: Mid-latitude winds blowing from subtropical high-pressure zones toward subpolar low-pressure zones, deflected to the southwest (Northern Hemisphere) and northwest (Southern Hemisphere).
3. Polar Easterlies: Cold winds blowing from polar high-pressure zones toward subpolar low-pressure zones, deflected to the northeast (Northern Hemisphere) and southeast (Southern Hemisphere). These are interspersed with calm high-pressure zones: the subtropical Horse Latitudes and polar high-pressure regions.