Lecture Notes on Global Wind Patterns, Watersheds, Solar Radiation, Earth's Seasons, Geography, and Climate

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to global wind patterns, watersheds, solar radiation, Earth's seasons, geography, and climate.

Troposhere

The lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere, where weather occurs and temperature decreases with altitude.

Solar Radiation

The energy emitted by the sun, primarily in the form of visible light and infrared radiation, which drives weather patterns and climate on Earth.

Atmospheric Circulation

The uneven heating of Earth’s surface drives atmospheric circulation patterns through convection.

Hadley Cells

Large-scale atmospheric circulation cells that occur in the tropical regions, characterized by rising warm air at the equator and descending cool air at around 30 degrees latitude. Form trade winds.

Polar Cells

Atmospheric circulation cells found at high latitudes, where cold air sinks and flows towards the equator, influencing climate patterns. These cells are characterized by polar easterlies and help establish the temperature gradient between the poles and the middle latitudes.

Ferrel Cells

Mid-latitude atmospheric circulation cells that are driven by the interaction between polar and tropical air masses. They are characterized by westerlies and play a significant role in weather patterns. Between 30 and 60 latitude.

Coriolis Effect

The Coriolis Effect refers to the apparent deflection of moving objects, such as winds and currents, caused by the rotation of the Earth. It influences the direction of wind patterns and ocean currents, leading to clockwise circulation in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.