Atmoshperic Circulation Flashcards
How does climate change affect atmospheric circulation?
Poles are warming faster than Equatorial regions. This means the thermal equator and Hadley cells are moving further north and south.
How does altitude affect atmospheric circulation?
As altitude increases air pressure decreases. Altitude creates a larger pressure difference than high to low pressure at sea level.
How does latitude affect atmospheric circulation?
Equatorial low pressure, subtropical high pressure, subpolar low pressure, polar high pressure. From equator to north or South Pole.
How do land and sea affect atmospheric circulation?
Land heats quicker than sea. The large land masses of the northern hemisphere create continental low pressure zones in their summer.
How do seasons affect atmospheric circulation?
As the earth rotates around the sun, the pout closest to the sun changes. This is called the thermal equator. In January, this is closer to the Tropic of Capricorn. In July, this is closer to the Tropic of Cancer. The thermal equators aren’t straight as the earth wobbles and land and sea, heat and cool at different rates.
