APES 4.5, global wind patterns

global wind patterns

air movements that are caused by pressure belts convection cells and earth's rotation. Warm air rises from the equator to the poles then cools and sinks back to the equator

trade winds

Prevailing winds that blow northeast from 30 degrees north latitude to the equator and that blow southeast from 30 degrees south latitude to the equator

wind

The horizontal movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area of lower pressure

solar radiation

radiant energy emitted by the sun from a nuclear fusion reaction that creates electromagnetic energy

equator

An imaginary circle around the middle of the earth, halfway between the North Pole and the South Pole

Coriolis effect

Causes moving air and water to turn left in the southern hemisphere and turn right in the northern hemisphere due to Earth's hemisphere.

atmospheric circulation

hot air rises, moves, cools and sinks, and is heated again

solar radiation diagram

shows the levels of radiation depending on the latitude on earth. More at the equator and less at 90.

Polar Cell

A convection current in the atmosphere, formed by air that rises at 60 degrees N and 60 degrees S and sinks at the poles, 90 degrees N and 90 degrees S

Ferell Cell

A convection current in the atmosphere that lies between Hadley cells and polar cells

Coriolis Effect

The deflection of an object's path due to the rotation of Earth

Albedo

The percentage of incoming sunlight reflected from a surface

Saturation Point

The maximum amount of water vapor in the air at a given temperature.

Adiabatic Cooling

The cooling effect of reduced pressure on air as it rises higher in the atmosphere and expands

Adiabatic Heating

The heating effect of increased pressure on air as it sinks toward the surface of Earth and decreases in volume

Latent Heat Release

The release of energy when water vapor in the atmosphere condenses into liquid water

Atmospheric Convection Current

Global patterns of air movement that are initiated by the unequal heating of Earth

Hadley Cell

A convection current in the atmosphere that cycles between the equator and 30° N and 30° S.