Weather, Climate And Global Atmospheric Circulation

Question 1

What is weather

Answer 1

the day to day changes in the state of the atmosphere,
including daily changes in temperature, rainfall and wind speed.

Question 2

What is climate

Answer 2

the average weather conditions in a particular area or region over a long period of time (usually the average over 30 years).

Question 3

What is air pressure

Answer 3

Air pressure is the force exerted on the Earth’s surface by the weight of the air above it.

Question 4

What is the Hadley Cell?

Answer 4

The first cell is the Hadley Cell. This starts at the Equator where it is very hot, the warm air rises creating a low-pressure zone. The air moves away from the Equator and begins to cool, sinking back towards Earth’s surface at around 30 degrees latitude. This creates a high-pressure zone forming many of the world’s hot deserts.

Question 5

What is the Ferrel Cell?

Answer 5

The second cell is the Ferrel Cell. In this cell, air near the surface of Earth moves Poleward from high to low pressure (creating the Westerlies). As this relatively warm air mass meets cold Polar winds from the north, at around 60 degrees latitude, it starts to rise above the colder air, forming another area of low pressure

Question 6

What is the Polar cell

Answer 6

These are located at the poles and are formed as cold, dense air sinks at the North and South Poles, creating an area of high pressure. The cold air spreads out from the poles, moving to lower latitudes. As the air mixes with warmer air at lower latitudes, it begins to rise at around 60 degrees latitude.

Question 7

What is air pressure measured in?

Answer 7

Pressure is measured in millibar (mbar)

Question 8

What is the average air pressure in mbar?

Answer 8

1013mbar

Question 9

What do we usually describe air pressure as being?

Answer 9

We usually describe air pressure as being high or low

Question 10

What do we measure pressure with?

Answer 10

We measure pressure using a barometer