Global Winds And Ocean Current Flashcards
(10 cards)
What causes global atmospheric circulation?
Uneven solar heating and Earth’s rotation create wind belts and convection cells.
What are Hadley cells?
Large convection cells where warm air rises at the equator, cools, and sinks at ~30° latitude.
What is the Coriolis effect?
Earth’s rotation deflects moving air and water—right in the Northern Hemisphere, left in the Southern Hemisphere.
How does the Coriolis effect influence wind patterns?
It helps create trade winds, westerlies, and polar easterlies by deflecting global wind directions.
What is the jet stream?
A fast-moving ribbon of air in the upper atmosphere caused by temperature gradients; influences weather patterns.
What are ocean currents?
Large-scale movements of ocean water driven by wind, salinity, temperature, and Earth’s rotation.
What is the Gulf Stream and how does it affect climate?
A warm Atlantic current that raises temperatures in Western Europe and Eastern North America.
How do cold currents affect coastal climates?
Cold currents (e.g., California Current) lower temperatures and may cause dry conditions.
What is upwelling?
When cold, nutrient-rich water rises from deep ocean, typically along coasts; important for marine ecosystems and fisheries.
How do ocean currents and winds work together?
Winds push surface water, initiating currents; currents then affect air temperature and pressure, creating feedback loops.
