M3C1 Air Circulation

Module 3 Air Environment

autumnal (fall) equinox

when the sun's direct rays strike the equator resulting in day and night of equal length; September 22 or 23

coriolis force

deflects a freely moving object to the right in the Northern Hemisphere

jet stream

a strong wind that develops at 30,000 to 35,000 feet and moves as a winding road across the US, generally from the west to east

radiation

the method by which the sun heats the Earth

revolution

the movement of the Earth revolving around the sun taking 365 days

rotation

the earth rotates on its axis the the angle of 23.5 deg while it revolves around the sun

summer solstice

when the sun is at its northernmost point from the equator in the Northern Hemisphere; longest day; June 21st or 22nd

vernal (spring) equinox

when the sun's direct rays strike the equator resulting in day and night of equal length; March 21st or 22nd

winter solstice

when the sun is the furthest south of the equator and the Northern Hemisphere , the day is the shortest; December 21st or 22nd