Global Atmospheric Circulation

Question 1

How does air circulates?

Answer 1

Air circulates between high and low pressure belts as a wind.

Question 2

What is a wind?

Answer 2

Winds are large scale movements of air caused by differences in air pressure.

Question 3

Differences in pressure

Answer 3

Caused by differences in temperature between the equator and the poles. Winds move from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure.

Question 4

Global atmospheric circulation cells

Answer 4

Winds are part of global atmospheric circulation cells. These cells have warm rising air which creates a low pressure belt, and cool falling air which creates a low pressure belt.

Question 5

Hadley cell

Answer 5

Largest cell which extends from the equator to between 30 to 40 north and south.

Question 6

Ferrel cell

Answer 6

Middle cell where air flows pole ward between 60 and 70 latitude.

Question 7

Polar cell

Answer 7

Smallest and weakness cell that occurs from the poles to the Ferrel cell.

Question 8

Weather

Answer 8

Global atmospheric circulation causes areas to have some types of weather more often than others. It affects the Earth’s climate.