EQ1: Global Atmospheric Circulation Flashcards
1
Q
Why are certain parts of the world hotter than others
A
- the earths curvature means that the tropics receive radiation from the sun ( absorbed by atmospheric gassed and the surface ) over a larger spread area and the equator receives a the same more concentrated radiation
2
Q
What are the tropopause
A
- the lowest part of our atmosphere acting as a lid containing all our weather
3
Q
How is air from the equator distributed
A
- warm less dense air rises about 18km in the air spreading towards both poles gradually cooling and sinking as it moves
- once reach the surface the air flows back towards the equator
4
Q
Are Ferrell cells driven by temperature
A
No
5
Q
What are Ferrell cells described as
A
- Ferrell cells are described as a gear as they flow in the opposite direction to the other cells transporting heat from the equator to the poles
6
Q
What happens in low pressure systems
A
- air rises causing more condensation resulting in higher precipitation
7
Q
What happens in high pressure systems
A
- air descends to the surface resulting in clear skies
8
Q
What is the Coriolis effect
A
- the spin of the Earth induces an apparent motion to the right in the northern hemisphere and motion to the left in the southern hemisphere
9
Q
Why does the Coriolis effect occur
A
Due to the equator rotating quicker than the poles, this is down to the equator being wider
10
Q
What is the process of conservation of angular momentum
A
- air moving away from the equator speeds up as it gets closer to the earths spin axis
11
Q
How high in the atmosphere do subtropical jet streams occur
A
12-15 km
12
Q
What are trade winds
A
Trade winds are the surface flow of the Hadley cells flowing west in both hemispheres as they move towards the equator
