Global atmospheric circulation patterns Flashcards
Coriolis effect, Hadley cells, Ferrel cells, Polar cells, trade winds, why warm air rises (27 cards)
Is sun’s energy light or heat
Light (short wave radiation)
How does sun’s energy convert into heat?
When it is absorbed by Earth’s surface and is converted to long wave radiation
T or F- the polar ice sheets reflect most sunlight
T
Does air sinking cause high or low pressure?
High
Does air rising cause high or low pressure?
Low
Why don’t winds flow in a straight line from the equator to the poles?
Coriolis effect (Earth’s rotation)
Describe Hadley cell circulation
At equator, hot air rises causing low pressure > unstable weather > air reaches tropopause and starts moving towards poles > cooler air sinks at 30 N/S = high pressure > flows back to equator as trade winds
What is the tropopause?
Boundary between the troposphere and stratosphere
Where are Ferrel cells?
30-60 degrees north/south
What happens in Ferrel cells?
Some air continues flowing to poles > picks up moisture over oceans > at 60 degrees warm moist air meets cold polar air > warm air rises over cold= low pressure system (affects UK, Europe weather)
Where are Polar cells?
60-90 degrees
What happens at Polar cells?
Air sinks, forming high pressure > cold air flows towards lower latitudes > mixes with warm air at 60 degrees = polar front
What is differential heating?
Different parts of world heat up differently
Why does differential heating occur?
Curvature of Earth
T or F- equator surface rotates slower than poles
F- travels faster because has further to travel in 1 day
T or F- magnitude of Coriolis force increases towards poles
T
Does Coriolis effect explain the direction of air around high and low pressure systems?
Yes
Where are subtropical jet streams?
Between descending branches of Hadley and Ferrel cells
Where are polar jet streams?
boundary between Ferrel and Polar cells
How does the Coriolis force effect winds?
Deflects them right in northern hemisphere (both away and towards equator) and left in southern (both)
Are trade winds flowing towards or away from equator?
towards
What is the direction of the trade wind in the southern hemisphere, caused by Coriolis?
Southeast trade winds
What is a jet stream?
Fast flowing current of air (major ones just below the tropopause)
Define wind
Air in motion- travelling between areas of different pressure
