Tapio Schneider: Where the Wind Comes From, on Earth and Other Planets

Winds on Earth have prevalent directions, a fact that has been exploited by sailors and explorers in centuries past and still influences the routes airplanes take today. Surface winds blow predominantly from the east in the tropics and from the west in midlatitudes; at higher altitudes, there is usually one eastward jet stream with 90 mph winds in each hemisphere. On Jupiter and Saturn, on the other hand, there are up to seven eastward jet streams at different latitudes in each hemisphere, with winds up to five times stronger than on Earth, and there are giant storms such as the Great Red Spot embedded in the jets. This lecture explores how different wind patterns on different planets arise, how they may have been in Earth's past, and how they may change in the future.

Tapio Schneider is Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering at Caltech.

Please Note: This event will be digitally recorded and made available for viewing on the Caltech Theater site. Many past Watson Lectures are available for viewing online on the Caltech Theater site, and are available for purchase: DVD Order Form (PDF)