Lecture 9: Global Circulation Patterns

Question 1

Earth’s energy balance

Surplus

Answer 1

Low latitudes

insolation is greater than OLR

Question 2

Earths energy balance

Deficit

Answer 2

High latitudes

OLR is greater than insolation

Question 3

High and low pressure areas

Tropics

Answer 3

Thermal L

more insolation and warm rising air

Question 4

High and low pressure areas

Poles

Answer 4

Thermal H

cold, sinking air

Question 5

High and low pressure areas

Subtropics

Answer 5

Dynamic H

air sinks

Question 6

High and low pressure areas

Subpolar

Answer 6

Dynamic L

convergence of surface winds in pubpolar region

Question 7

Trade winds

circulation in the tropics

Answer 7

prevailing winds that blow northeast from 30 degrees north latitude to the equator and that blow southeast from 30 degrees south latitude to the equator

Turns right in NH (northeast)
Turns left in SH (southeast)

Question 8

Polar easterlies

Answer 8

prevailing winds that blow from east to west between 60-90 degrees latitude in both hemispheres

Question 9

Westerlies

circulation mid latitude

Answer 9

dominant winds of the mid-latitudes, these winds move from the subtropical highs to the subpolar lows from west to east

air flows from subtropic H to subpolar low

Question 10

Polar high

Answer 10

low pressure system found over ocean, polwards of both NH and SH

Question 11

Subpolar low

Answer 11

winds generated by polar high converge with westerly winds from subtropical high at the subpolar low

Question 12

Subtropical high

Answer 12

has high atmospheric pressure

Question 13

Equatorial low

Answer 13

air is hot and expands, rising as convection causing low pressure to develop

Question 14

Thermal L

Answer 14

rising air diverges aloft, moves polward

Question 15

Dynamic L

Answer 15

convergence of surface winds in subpolar region

Question 16

Thermal H

Answer 16

surface air diverges from poles, moves equatorward

Question 17

Dynamic H

Answer 17

air sinks at subtropics

Question 18

Circulation of wind systems: Trade winds

Answer 18

air flows toward equator to replace rising air (circulation in the tropics)
Turns right in NH (northeast trade winds)
Turns left in SH (southeast trade winds)

Question 19

Circulation of wind systems

Westerlies

Answer 19

air flows from subtropical H to subpolar low and turns (westerlies in NH and SH) circulation in mid-latitudes

Question 20

Circulation of wind systems

Easterlies

Answer 20

air moving away from polar H and turns (polar easterlies in NH and SH) circulation in high latitudes

Question 21

Thermal properties

Tropics

Answer 21

air is rising making land warmer, results in thermal lows over land

Question 22

Thermal properties

Subtropics

Answer 22

air is sinking making ocean cooler, results in thermal highs in ocean

Question 23

Thermal properties

Subpolar

Answer 23

air is rising making ocean warmer, results in thermal lows in ocean

Question 24

Thermal properties

Polar

Answer 24

air is sinking, making land cooler, results in thermal highs over land

Question 25

Bermuda high

Answer 25

during NH summer, Bermuda high is very strong and directs hurricanes