APES EXAM Wind Patterns-ENSO

Hadley Cells

convection currents that exist between equator and 30° of the North or South latitude

Hadley Cells Rotation

Terrain around 30 degrees is very dry. At the equator, warm and dry air begins to rise (warm air holds more moisture)

As warm air rises, it both cools and expands/spreads North and South as the equator gets more isolation

As air cools, some moisture condenses and then falls to surface, as it expands, it drops the moisture and gets dry, then falls back into the map.

All of this rising and expanding air displaces previous cooler air to N/S. The displaced cooler (and drier) air sinks to the surface

Air warms again when it comes down to earth’s surface, but dry. Air will then circulate back to the equator and start the process all over again

Coriolis Effect

Because the Earth is rotating (from west to east), winds are deflected (Change) from straight lines, and become curves instead

Global Wind Currents

Air will travel from 30 north down to the equator, and from 30 south up to the equator, This is because air is traveling from high P to low P

As they do so, the winds will be deflected from East to West, which the opposite of Earth’s rotation. The speed of Earth’s rotation is different from top and bottom

Air will travel from 30 north up to 60 north, and from 30 south down to 60 south, This is because air is traveling from high P to low P

As they do so, the winds will be deflected from West to East, which the same as Earth’s rotation, and This is because at higher latitudes, the speed of Earth’s rotation differs, which is slower

Ocean Currents

Is a mass of water moving from one place to another. Is like a river within the ocean.

Importance of Ocean Currents

It increased dissolved oxygen levels, which is good for life. It also allows for transportation for things that cannot move by itself like eggs. It also filters pollution by moving away pollution and brings food

Surface Currents

Wind-driven currents. Occur at the surface, and Horizontal movement of water. Are caused by friction between wind and water, because wind pushes water

Surface Currents locations

west ocean currents (wind) between equator to 30 degrees because of Earth rotating.

30 degrees to 60 degrees goes east, so the wind also goes east

Gyres

circular movements of water, because pushing water east and west makes a circular pattern. Flows clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere Flows counter-clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere

Thermohaline Circulation

Causes deep ocean circulation (below the surface)

Vertical and horizontal movement combined

Temperature (thermo) and salinity  (haline) cause water density differences.

Due to density differences, water masses rise and fall, sliding across other masses 

(similar to cold fronts and warm fronts in the atmosphere)

Thermohaline Circulation process

where ocean currents are warm on top and cool on the bottom

Water is warmer near the equator gets cooler hits the poles, cooler water is more dense and sinks to ocean, gets heated it goes back up

Temperature and Salinity in Thermohaline Circulation

Warm water evaporates, the salt concentration increase, making the more dense sink down as they get cooler

wind, temp, and salinity are the ones that push water

Upwelling

anytime warm ocean water is at the surface, its pushed from one location to the other by wind, so then the cold water is pulled from under moved up to take the place of the water that got warmed and left.

The water from below has a bunch of healthy nutrients that are good for life is the water that gets pushed up

Rain shadows

mountain close to ocean. Wind has move past some amount of ocean, and wind picks up moisture and this mountain range
wind climbs up the mountain to bypass it, wind gets colder

it elevates then drops some moisture like rain and producers survive, as the wind comes down, its more dry and makes the other side of the mountain more desert like

Normal conditions

Surface winds move warmer surface water to the WEST

Strong winds travel EAST to WEST, pushes warm water away from South America and towards Aisa

This causes more rainfall in the WEST Pacific Ocean

The warm water moving to the WEST pushes cold water toward the EAST and causes upwelling near South America, and upwellings means a bunch of nutrients for fishermen and rich fish in South America

El Niño

The surface winds that usually move warm water WEST are weaker, so more warm water moves EAST.

Instead of more rain in the WEST, they experience more drought. The EAST gets more rainfall.

The usual upwelling near South America doesn’t happen.

El Nina

Surface winds are stronger and move warmer surface water to the WEST, more supercharged

This causes more rainfall in the WEST, which can even lead to floods

This causes more upwelling in the EAST near South America

Basically a more extreme version of normal conditions