The GAC Flashcards
What is the definition of wind?
The movement of air on a large scale
What does cool sinking air create?
High pressure belts of wind
What does warm rising air create?
Low pressure belts of wind
Does cool air sink or rise?
Sink
Does warm air sink or rise?
Rise
What are the 3 types of GAC cells?
Hadley, Ferrel and Polar cells
What are the weather conditions at a high pressure belt?
Minimal rain and clouds
What are the weather conditions at a low pressure belt?
Rain and clouds
In the GAC, what happens at the equator?
Warm air rises and moves away from the equator, cooling as it gets further away
In the GAC, what happens at the equator?
Warm air rises and moves away from the equator, cooling as it gets further away
In the GAC, what happens at 30 degrees north and south of the equator?
The cool air sinks
In the GAC, what do the surface winds do once the cool air has sunk at 30 degrees north and south of the equator?
Either blow wind back towards the equator or to 60 degrees north and south of the equator
In the GAC, what happens at 60 degrees north and south of the equator?
The air is met with warm surface winds, making it rise and split, some of it going back towards the equator and some going towards the poles.
In the GAC, what happens at the north and south pole?
The air has cooled and now sinks, blowing back towards the equator as surface winds
What are trade winds?
Surface winds that blow from 30 degrees towards the equator
