Atmospheric circulation

Question 1

What are winds?

Answer 1

Winds are large scale air movements

Question 2

What causes winds?

Answer 2

Differences in air pressure

Question 3

How does air pressure cause winds?

Answer 3

Wind moves from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure

Question 4

What are Westerlies?

Answer 4

Westerlies are surface winds that blow in the direction of the poles. In the Northern Hemisphere, the blow from the south-west

Question 5

What are trade winds?

Answer 5

Trade winds are surface winds that blow in the direction of the equator. In the Northern Hemisphere, they blow from the North-East

Question 6

Where do surface winds blow from and to?

Answer 6

Winds blow from high pressure areas to low pressure areas

Question 7

What is global atmospheric circulation?

Answer 7

The circular movements of the Earth’s atmosphere. The circular movements of air are known as cells, which all join together to form the circulation of the Earth’s atmosphere

Question 8

What are the 3 main cells in the global atmospheric circulation model? (Pole to Equator)

Answer 8

Polar Cell, Ferrell Cell, Hadley Cell

Question 9

What is high pressure and where on the global atmospheric circulation model would you wind high pressure?

Answer 9

When air sinks towards the ground, high pressure is formed.
It happens at 30°N and 30°S of the equator, 90°N (North Pole) and 90°S (South Pole)

Question 10

What is low pressure and where on the global atmospheric circulation model would you find it?

Answer 10

When air is rising from the surface of the ground, low pressure is formed
It happens at 0° (the equator), 60°N and 60°S of the equator

Question 11

Describe what happens in the Hadley Cell

Answer 11

Warm air rises at the equator, travels North and South and sinks around 30°N and S. It then travels back to the equator

Question 12

Describe what happens in the Ferrell Cell

Answer 12

Warm air rises at 60°N and S, back towards the equator. Cool air sinks at 30°N and S of the equator

Question 13

Describe what happens in the Polar Cell?

Answer 13

Cool air descends at 90°N and S (the poles) then the air moves back towards the poles

Question 14

What are deep ocean currents caused by?

Answer 14

Differences in water density

Question 15

What are surface currents caused by?

Answer 15

Global wind patterns, the rotation of the Earth, and the shape of the ocean basins.

Question 16

What do surface currents do?

Answer 16

Distribute heat around the planet

Question 17

What is the Global Circulation System?

Answer 17

Global atmospheric circulation is the worldwide movement of air through which thermal energy is distributed across the earth’s surface. Global atmospheric circulation is responsible for about 50% of the heat transfer on earth.