global atmospheric circulation

What does the global atmospheric circulation model show?

How air is spread through the globe.

Which areas of the earth recieve direct and indirect sunlight?

The equator receives direct sunlight and the poles recieve indirect sunlight.

What is a jet stream?

a narrow band of strong air streams circulating the earth.

What happens after air rises at the Hadley cell?

When air is rising, the moisture in it cools and condenses. At some point the clouds will get too heavy and release rain.

An area of low pressure is created (so these areas seem much more rainfall).

As the air moves north, it will start to cool because it's distance from the equator has increased. As it cools, it sinks back down creating a name of high pressure.

When air sinks, moisture evaporates, creating a clear sky and lots of sun.

What is the most important influence on worldwide variations in climate?

latitude

Why does the equator receive much higher insolation than polar latitudes?

Due to the curved surface of the earth.

The parallel rays of the sun are spread thinly when they strike the Earth's surface at high latitude, whereas at low latitudes sunlight is more highly concentrated. As a result, air at the equator is heated strongly.

Why is air at the equator heated strongly?

At low latitudes, such as the equator, sunlight is more highly concentrated.

What happens to the air heated at the equator? What does this create?

It becomes less dense and rises to a high altitude.

This creates a global climate zone of low pressure, the equatorial zone. After rising, the air spreads out and begins to flow towards the north and south poles.

What provides the basis for a simple convection cell to operate?

The low pressure belt at the equator and the high pressure belt at the poles.

How many convection cells operate in global atmospheric circulation?

3.

Why does global circulation involve 3 cells?

Because the earth rotates on an axis.

What does the movement of the earth rotating on an axis generate?

Strong altitude-high winds which wrap around the planet like belts.

Where do the strong altitude-high winds which wrap around the planet like belts flow?

Towards the east, as the earth spins, and interact with the convection cells.

How does global pressure and surface wind patterns influence precipitation?

-Rainfall is often very low around the tropics of Capricorn and cancer. Dry air descends there as part of the Hadley cell, resulting in arid conditions.

-Precipitation is also very low in polar regions and falls mostly as snow - cold air has a limited ability to hold water vapour.

-Rainfall is high and constant throughout the year near the equstor, as hot air rises, it cools slightly. Water vapour is converted into droplets of convectional rain.

What is the Coriolis effect

As the earth rotates,it causes wind to bend. this is because the earth has a curvature, with the equator far wider than the poles. Therefore, the earth has to spin faster than the equator. This difference inspired means that wind bends as it blows across the earth.

Describe the temperature and sun is at at the Ferrell cell.

Sun rays are still quite intensive as near to equator. Around 50 degrees.

Describe the northern polar cell.

High pressure air arrives and sinks due to the cold temperature. As it sinks, it creates high pressure at the surface. Any moisture will evaporate off to gives clear sky and sunny conditions.

What happens to air at the northern polar cell?

It has to head south. The cold air from the north pole meets warm air from the tropics and they cannot mix. This means the air rises. The moisture in the air will cool, condense and form clouds which end in rainfall. This air can go left towards the equator or right towards the poles.