Atmospheric Circulation and Jet Streams

Atmospheric circulation is the large-scale movement of air driven by uneven heating of the Earth's surface by the Sun.
Differences in temperature and pressure across the globe create air mass movement, influencing weather patterns and climate.

Hadley Cell: Ranges from the equator to around 30° latitude. Warm air rises at the equator causing low pressure and flows towards the poles, where it cools, sinks, and creates high pressure.
Ferrel Cell: Located between 30° and 60° latitude. This cell is influenced by the Hadley and Polar cells, with air flowing poleward at the upper levels and equatorward at the surface.
Polar Cell: Extends from 60° latitude to the poles. Dense cold air sinks near the poles, creating high pressure and forming polar easterlies.

Jet streams are high-speed air currents located near the tropopause, influencing weather patterns and storm development.
The most significant jet streams include the polar jet stream and the subtropical jet stream.

The Earth's rotation causes moving air masses to be deflected; to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere, affecting wind direction and patterns.

Trade winds blow from east to west in the tropics, while westerlies blow from west to east in the mid-latitudes, creating a complex interaction of wind patterns.

Monsoons result from seasonal wind patterns influenced by differential heating of land and sea.
The South Asian monsoon is a prominent example, driven by heating of the Indian subcontinent, which creates a low-pressure area drawing moist air from the Indian Ocean.

The albedo effect involves surface reflection of sunlight back into space, impacting the Earth’s climate by determining how much solar energy is absorbed or reflected.

The three-cell model simplifies atmospheric circulation, dividing each hemisphere into three distinct circulation cells: Hadley, Ferrel, and Polar Cells, illustrating the general patterns of air movement and pressure systems.