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AP®Environmental ScienceCollege BoardExam QuestionsUnit 4: Earth Systems & ResourcesGlobal Wind Patterns

Global Wind Patterns (College Board AP® Environmental Science): Exam Questions

2 mins2 questions
11 mark

Which of the following is not a characteristic of a Hadley cell?  

  • It is the largest atmospheric circulation cell, extending from the equator to around 30°–40° latitude.

  • Trade winds within the Hadley cell blow from the tropics toward the equator in an easterly direction.

  • Air sinks at the equator, creating high-pressure zones and desert conditions.

  • Descending air in the Hadley cell leads to warm, dry conditions in subtropical regions, forming deserts.

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21 mark

Which of the following best describes the westerlies?  

  • Winds that blow from the subtropical high-pressure belts toward the mid-latitudes, deflected by the Coriolis force.

  • Winds that blow from the equator toward the poles in a straight, uninterrupted path.

  • Winds that move from the poles toward the equator, known as polar easterlies.

  • Winds that blow from the equator toward the subtropical high-pressure belts.

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