Understanding the Coriolis Effect
Go to: http://www.uwf.edu/atc/projects/coriolis/main.swf
The Coriolis Effect Defined: What in the World is it?
Warm Air Rises and Cold Air Falls- Why?
Warm air is less dense while cold air is less dense and falls.
What is the general pattern of wind currents on the globe?
Warm air rises at the equator and falls at the poles.
What is a convection current?
The circulation of warm air as it rises, cools and falls.
Global circulation is driven by which two processes?
Uneven solar heating and the rotation of the Earth.
Notes:
Density
Temperature and water vapor greatly influence air density. Humid air is less dense than dry air. Warm air is less dense than cold air.
Pressure
At Earth's surface air molecules are tightly packed together. As air masses rise they become less dense, expand and cool. Cooler air masses hold less water than warm. As air masses fall they become compressed and heat up.
Putting it All Together:
Because of the Coriolis Effect, circulation cells in the northern hemisphere winds are deflected clockwise and to the right circulation cells in the southern hemisphere winds are deflected counter clockwise and to the left.
Define and explain:
Hadley Cells
As air rises at the equator, it lose moisture by rainfall by expanding and cooling. When it has traveled about 30 degrees N and 30 degrees S latitude, the air becomes dense enough to fall back to the surface.
Ferrel Cells
Air is driven by uneven heating and influenced by the Coriolis effect. Surface wind is deflected form the right, flowing from the west to form the Westerly Winds.
Polar Cells
Air that has grown cold over the poles begins blowing toward the equator at the surface, turning to the west as it does so. At between 50 and 60 degrees latitude at each hemisphere the air has taken up enough heat and moisture to ascend.
Horse Latitudes
The area of high atmospheric pressure and little wind is the subtropical high, which are dry bands centered around the 30 degree marks of Hadley and Ferrel cells.
Doldrums
Sailors created this term for the calm equitorial areas where the surface of two Hadley cells converge
Go to: http://www.uwf.edu/atc/projects/coriolis/main.swf
The Coriolis Effect Defined: What in the World is it?
Warm Air Rises and Cold Air Falls- Why?
Warm air is less dense while cold air is less dense and falls.
What is the general pattern of wind currents on the globe?
Warm air rises at the equator and falls at the poles.
What is a convection current?
The circulation of warm air as it rises, cools and falls.
Global circulation is driven by which two processes?
Uneven solar heating and the rotation of the Earth.
Notes:
Density
Temperature and water vapor greatly influence air density. Humid air is less dense than dry air. Warm air is less dense than cold air.
Pressure
At Earth's surface air molecules are tightly packed together. As air masses rise they become less dense, expand and cool. Cooler air masses hold less water than warm. As air masses fall they become compressed and heat up.
Putting it All Together:
Because of the Coriolis Effect, circulation cells in the northern hemisphere winds are deflected clockwise and to the right circulation cells in the southern hemisphere winds are deflected counter clockwise and to the left.
Define and explain:
Hadley Cells
As air rises at the equator, it lose moisture by rainfall by expanding and cooling. When it has traveled about 30 degrees N and 30 degrees S latitude, the air becomes dense enough to fall back to the surface.
Ferrel Cells
Air is driven by uneven heating and influenced by the Coriolis effect. Surface wind is deflected form the right, flowing from the west to form the Westerly Winds.
Polar Cells
Air that has grown cold over the poles begins blowing toward the equator at the surface, turning to the west as it does so. At between 50 and 60 degrees latitude at each hemisphere the air has taken up enough heat and moisture to ascend.
Horse Latitudes
The area of high atmospheric pressure and little wind is the subtropical high, which are dry bands centered around the 30 degree marks of Hadley and Ferrel cells.
Doldrums
Sailors created this term for the calm equitorial areas where the surface of two Hadley cells converge