Physical Envi - atmosphere

Question 1

What are the factors that prove different areas of the world receive an imbalance in solar radiation.

Answer 1

Albedo: The poles reflect more and absorb less solar energy than the lower latitudes

Distance from the sun:

Depth of the atmosphere:

Concentration of the sun’s rays:

Example: Sri Lanka -

Question 2

Explain how the earth receives solar radiation and how it’s distributed between the cells.

Answer 2

Warm air rises at the equator and travels to around 30º North where it cools and sinks to the surface, before returning to the tropics. movement is known as the Hadley cell.
At the equator there is an area of low pressure, due to the rising and expanding air. At around 30º North the sinking air creates an area of high pressure. This cell is thermally direct.
The Ferrel cell is found between the Hadley and Polar cells and lies between 60º North and 30º North. The polar cell is thermally indirect as it is powered by the other two cells. In reality the effect of depressions and jet streams disrupts the Ferrel cell.
The Polar cell is much smaller and is thermally indirect. As can be seen in the diagram below, cold air sinks at the North Pole, before flowing south at the surface. Here it is warmed by contact with land/ocean around 60º North, where it rises

Question 3

Explain rossy waves and what they do

Question 4

Ocean circulation - likely to appear

Question 5

Atmosphere circulation