Atmospheric Transfers

Question 1

What are the 2 atmospheric transfers that moves energy from equator to higher latitudes?

Answer 1

• wind belts
• ocean currents

Question 2

How do pressure variations influence atmospheric transfers?

Answer 2

• air moves from high to low pressure
• low/declining pressure indicates poor weather, rising pressure = better weather

Question 3

Why are their variations is surface pressure?

Answer 3

• low pressure in equatorial regions as warm air rises + leaves surface
• higher pressure in polar regions as cool air descends onto surface

Question 4

How do surface wind belts affect atmospheric transfers?

Answer 4

• winds between tropics meet at ITCZ
• uneven due to seasonal variations in insolation
• summer in N. Hemisphere causes cooling in southern, so inc. differences between polar + equatorial air
• creates stronger westerlies in N. Hemisphere

Question 5

How do ocean conveyer belts affect atmospheric transfers?

Answer 5

• cold, salty water sinks from polar regions to equator, where warm water gives heat to surface winds
• more evaporation in N. Atlantic, leaving saltier water behind - denser so sinks + cools
• water transported to Pacific, dilutes, less dense so rises