Global Wind Patterns and Ocean Circulation

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Vocabulary flashcards covering global wind patterns, atmospheric circulation cells, adiabatic processes, the Coriolis effect, and oceanic circulation systems.

Last updated 3:05 AM on 9/25/26
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13 Terms

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Air Density

A physical property where warmer, less dense air rises and cooler, denser air sinks.

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Saturation Point

The maximum amount of water vapor that air can hold at a given temperature.

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Adiabatic Cooling

The cooling effect that occurs as rising air encounters lower atmospheric pressure, causing its volume to expand.

<p>The cooling effect that occurs as rising air encounters lower atmospheric pressure, causing its volume to expand.</p>
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Adiabatic Heating

The heating effect that occurs as sinking air encounters higher atmospheric pressure, causing its volume to contract and compress.

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Latent Heat Release

The release of energy as heat when water vapor condenses into liquid precipitation in clouds.

<p>The release of energy as heat when water vapor condenses into liquid precipitation in clouds.</p>
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Atmospheric Convection Currents

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

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Hadley Cells

Atmospheric convection currents that cycle between the equator and 30o30^\text{o} north and south latitudes.

<p>Atmospheric convection currents that cycle between the equator and $$30^\text{o}$$ north and south latitudes.</p>
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Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)

The region of Earth near the equator that receives the most intense sunlight and where the ascending branches of the two Hadley cells converge.

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Ferrel Cells

Atmospheric convection currents formed by air that rises at 60o60^\text{o} north and south and sinks at 30o30^\text{o} north and south.

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Polar Cells

Atmospheric convection currents formed by air that rises at 60o60^\text{o} north and south and sinks at the poles (90o90^\text{o} north and south).

<p>Atmospheric convection currents formed by air that rises at $$60^\text{o}$$ north and south and sinks at the poles ($$90^\text{o}$$ north and south).</p>
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<p>Coriolis Effect</p>

Coriolis Effect

The deflection of moving objects, air, or water to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere, caused by Earth's rotation.

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Oceanic Gyres

Large-scale circular ocean current systems formed by wind patterns and Earth's rotation, rotating clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

<p>Large-scale circular ocean current systems formed by wind patterns and Earth's rotation, rotating clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.</p>
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Thermohaline Circulation

An oceanic circulation system driven by surface waters containing high concentrations of salt, driving the deep-sea mixing of surface water and deep water globally.

<p>An oceanic circulation system driven by surface waters containing high concentrations of salt, driving the deep-sea mixing of surface water and deep water globally.</p>