How do divergence and convergence each affect wind speed and difference between convergence and divergence in geography?
Divergence and convergence are concepts related to the horizontal movement of air in the atmosphere. Divergence occurs when air is moving away from a specific point, while convergence happens when air is moving toward a particular point.
Divergence typically leads to a decrease in wind speed at the surface. As air moves away from a point, it creates a "void" that tends to be filled by air from higher up in the atmosphere. This downward movement of air from aloft to the surface results in slower surface winds.
Convergence, on the other hand, often results in an increase in wind speed near the surface. As air converges and accumulates at a point, it needs somewhere to go. This can lead to air being forced upward, creating a vertical column of rising air. This rising motion can enhance the speed of surface winds.
In geography, convergence and divergence refer to different concepts related to the movement of tectonic plates and the resulting landforms.
Convergence: Convergence occurs when tectonic plates move toward each other. This movement can result in different types of interactions between the plates:
Collision: When two plates with continental crust collide, they can create mountain ranges due to the intense compression and folding of rock layers. An example of this is the Himalayas, where the Indian Plate collided with the Eurasian Plate.
Subduction: In cases where an oceanic plate collides with a continental plate, the denser oceanic plate is forced beneath the continental plate in a process called subduction. This can lead to the formation of deep ocean trenches, volcanic arcs, and earthquakes. The Pacific Ring of Fire is a well-known area where subduction zones are common.
Divergence: Divergence occurs when tectonic plates move away from each other. This movement is often associated with the creation of new crust along mid-ocean ridges:
Mid-Ocean Ridges: At divergent boundaries, molten material from the Earth's mantle rises to the surface, creating new oceanic crust. As the plates move apart, the magma solidifies, forming underwater mountain ranges known as mid-ocean ridges. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a prominent example of a divergent boundary.
Rift Valleys: In continental areas, divergence can lead to the formation of rift valleys. As the crust stretches and thins, it can create a depression or valley. The East African Rift Valley is an example of a continental rift.
In summary, convergence involves plates moving toward each other, resulting in mountain-building, subduction, and associated landforms. Divergence involves plates moving away from each other, leading to the formation of mid-ocean ridges and rift valleys
Speed divergence is cause by winds rapidly increasing speed downstream on the pressure surface. High wind speeds will pull mass out of an area faster than it can be replaced by the slower wind speeds, thus decreasing the mass. Speed Convergence is caused by winds rapidly decreasing speed downstream.The convergence of horizontal winds causes air to rise, whereas the divergence of horizontal winds causes downward motion of the air. Use tape to create a “handle” on the top surface of the cardboard as in the illustration. Divergence in the atmosphere is when air flows (wind) away from a region such as in a high pressure system. Convergence is when wind moves toward a region such as in a low pressure system. Divergence generally means two things are moving apart while convergence implies that two forces are moving together. In the world of economics, finance, and trading, divergence and convergence are terms used to describe the directional relationship of two trends, prices, or indicators. The stronger the divergence is aloft, the more forceful the upward motion is to replace it. This stronger lift in the atmosphere can sometimes lead to explosive storm development and stronger surface winds. Divergent plate motion at a Mid-Ocean Ridge occurs at different rates, depending on the location. Spreading can be as fast as 20 cm/year or as slow as 1 cm/year. At these rates over hundreds of millions of years, it is not a surprise that the continents have moved so far apart. Aloft, over surface high pressure areas, winds converge, and then move down (subside and are compressed thus warm) and at the surface diverge to move toward the less dense areas of low pressure. Air moving in toward a center of low pressure or a trough is forced to rise, exhibiting a motion called convergence. Similarly, air moving outward from a ridge or center of high pressure descends, exhibiting divergence. A tectonic boundary where two plates are moving away from each other and new crust is forming from magma that rises to the Earth's surface between the two plates. The middle of the Red Sea and the mid-ocean ridge are divergent plate boundaries. A tectonic boundary where two plates are moving toward each other if the two plates are of equal density, they usually push up against each other, forming a mountain chain. If they are of unequal density, one plate usually sinks beneath the other in a subduction zone.
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