Global Heat Transfer

Question 1

Tropical continental air mass

Answer 1

Originates over Sahara desert, a large land mass in tropical latitudes
As a result air is warm dry and stable
Associated weather is very warm, dry weather in winter and extremely hot dry weather in summer

Question 2

General pattern of surface winds

Answer 2

Intense heating over the equator creates and powers atmospheric circulation cells eg Hadleys and associated surface winds
Within the circulating cells, air rises and descends at different latitudes creating belts of low and high pressure
Surface winds blow from areas of high pressure to low pressure i.e subtropical high to Equatorial low
Polar high to temperate low
Coriolis force

Question 3

What is the Coriolis force?

Answer 3

When surface winds are deflected to the right in the Northern hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere

Question 4

Atmospheric circulation - redistributing energy over the globe

Answer 4

Intense heating occurs in tropical latitudes whilst cooling occurs in polar latitudes
Warm air rises at equator and cold air descends at the poles
Rising and descending air creates circulation cells
- the sub tropical Hadley cell
Polar cells develop at polar latitudes
Between Hadleys and polar cells, mid latitude Ferrell cells develop

Question 5

How do circulation cells and their associated wind belts - eg trade winds transfer energy

Answer 5

From areas of surplus - the equator to deficit - the poles

Question 6

Oceanic circulation and its role in the redistribution of energy over the globe

Answer 6

Equatorial waters are heated to a greater extent than polar waters
Polar waters, being colder are heavier and sink to the ocean floor
Polar currents then flow towards towards the equator displacing upwards the lighter warmer Equatorial waters
At the same time the warmer Equatorial waters rise as they are lighter as surface currents to flow polewards
There is therefore a General movement of colder polar water to the equator and warm Equatorial water to the poles
Oceanic circulation like atmospheric circulation therefore transfers heat energy from areas of surplus to deficit

Question 7

Tropical maritime air mass

Answer 7

Originates over Atlantic Ocean and bay of Guinea in tropical latitudes
As a result, air is warm, moist and unstable
Associated weather is hot-very hot and humid