Atmospheric Hazards- Cells

Question 1

What is global atomospheric circulation?

Answer 1

It explains the location of world climate zones and the distribution of weather hazards. It demonstrates the circular air movements that contribute to the circulation of the gases in the earth’s atmosphere.

Question 2

Longitude and Latitude

The arctic circle is a line of _ and is _ degrees _ of the equator

Answer 2

The arctic circle is a line of latitude and is 66.5 degrees north of the equator

Question 3

Longitude and Latitude

The tropic of cancer is _ degrees _ of the equator. It is a line of _

Answer 3

The tropic of cancer is 23.5 degrees north of the equator. It is a line of latitude.

Question 4

Longitude and Latitude

The Antarctic circle is _ degrees
_ of the equator. It is a line of _

Answer 4

The Antarctic circle is 66.5 degrees south of the equator. It is a line of latitude.

Question 5

Longitude and Latitude

The tropic of Capricorn is _ degrees _ of the equator. It is a line of _

Answer 5

The tropic of Capricorn is 23.5 degrees south of the equator. It is a line of latitude.

Question 6

Longitude and Latitude

What is the line of longitude called?

Answer 6

Prime Meridian

Question 7

Cells

What are the three main cells?

Answer 7

• Hadley
• Ferrel
• Polar

Question 8

Cells

What does it mean when air sinks?

(What does it mean pressure wise and with cross-winds?)

What degrees of the earth does this happen?

Answer 8

There is high pressure
Winds move outwards (away from high pressure area)

30 degrees N/S

Question 9

Cells

What does it mean when air rises?

(What does it mean pressure wise and with cross-winds?)

What degrees of the earth does this happen?

Answer 9

There is low pressure
Winds move inwards (towards low pressure areas)

60 degrees N/S

Question 10

What weather do we get at high pressure areas?

Answer 10

Clear weather

Question 11

What weather do we get at low pressure areas?

Answer 11

Windy, Rainy, Hot, Humid

Question 12

What happens to pressure belts through seasonal changes?

Answer 12

Seasonal changes to weather, due to the earth’s tilt

Question 13

Describe the Hadley Cell

Answer 13

• The equator is closer to the sun, so is heated more intensley
• The air warms, gets less dense and rises to make clouds
• This creates low pressure belt and a hot, humid area with high rainfall
• When air reaches the troposphere, it moves to 30 degrees N/S
• Here it cools, gets less dense and sinks, but clouds don’t form
• This creates an area of low rainful and high pressure (desert climate)
• Wind then moves back to the equator (trade winds)

Question 14

What are trade winds and westerlies?

Answer 14

Trade winds- Winds that go back to the equator
Westerlies- Winds that go back towards higher altitudes

Question 15

Describe the Ferrel Cell

Answer 15

• Warm surface winds from 30 degrees N/S meet cold air from the poles at 60 degrees N/S (called polar front?)
• As the warm air is less dense, it rises above the cold air, creating low pressure belts
• As the warm air rises, it cools, condenses and forms clouds, resulting in rainfall
• As the air reaches the top of the troposhere, some of the air moves back towards the equator and some air moves towards the poles

Question 16

Describe the Polar Cell

Answer 16

• Where it meets the Ferrel cell, air rises creating an area of low pressure. Some of the air moves to the equator and some to the poles (polar cell).
• At the poles, air sinks, forming high pressure and therefore dry conditions

Question 17

What weather do we see within the Hadley cell?

How many degrees is this?

Answer 17

Near the equator- tropical climate (humid, hot and rainy)
30 degrees- desert climate (dry and hot)

0-30

Question 18

What weather do we see within the Ferrel cell?

How many degrees is this?

Answer 18

Changeable weather- difficult to forecast
Lots of rain
Hot at times

30-60

Question 19

What weather do we see within the polar cell?

How many degrees is this?

Answer 19

Cold
Dry

60-90