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Questions and Answers
What creates high pressure at around 30° latitude?
What creates high pressure at around 30° latitude?
Which jet streams primarily influence weather patterns?
Which jet streams primarily influence weather patterns?
What seasonal wind patterns result from the differential heating of land and sea?
What seasonal wind patterns result from the differential heating of land and sea?
In which region do trade winds blow from east to west?
In which region do trade winds blow from east to west?
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What is the effect of the Earth's rotation on moving air masses in the Northern Hemisphere?
What is the effect of the Earth's rotation on moving air masses in the Northern Hemisphere?
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What drives the Ferrel Cell according to the information provided?
What drives the Ferrel Cell according to the information provided?
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Where is the Hadley Cell located?
Where is the Hadley Cell located?
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In the Southern Hemisphere, the Coriolis effect causes wind to deflect in which direction?
In the Southern Hemisphere, the Coriolis effect causes wind to deflect in which direction?
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What does the albedo effect influence in the Earth's climate system?
What does the albedo effect influence in the Earth's climate system?
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What drives atmospheric circulation?
What drives atmospheric circulation?
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How many circulation cells are present in the three-cell model of atmospheric circulation?
How many circulation cells are present in the three-cell model of atmospheric circulation?
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Where does the Polar Cell extend?
Where does the Polar Cell extend?
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What role do jet streams play in the atmosphere?
What role do jet streams play in the atmosphere?
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Which of these is NOT a consequence of atmospheric circulation?
Which of these is NOT a consequence of atmospheric circulation?
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What primarily causes the differences in temperature and pressure in the atmosphere?
What primarily causes the differences in temperature and pressure in the atmosphere?
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Which phenomenon is responsible for reflecting sunlight back into space?
Which phenomenon is responsible for reflecting sunlight back into space?
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Study Notes
Atmospheric Circulation and Wind Patterns
- 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.
Circulation Cells
- 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
- 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.
Coriolis Effect
- 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 and Westerlies
- 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
- 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.
Albedo Effect
- 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
- 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.
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Description
Explore the dynamics of atmospheric circulation, focusing on the boundaries between different circulation cells. This quiz covers the characteristics of the Hadley Cell, the polar jet stream, and how these factors influence weather patterns and storm development.
