CORIOLIS EFFECT NOTES
Warm Air Rises and Cold Air Falls- Why?
Warm air is inherently less dense than cold air, so it weighs less and rises.
Cold air is much denser, so it falls.
What is the general pattern of wind currents on the globe?
Air warms, expands and rises at the equator, then cools, contracts and sinks once it reaches the poles.
Global circulation is driven by which two processes?
1. Uneven Solar Heating on the Earth
2. The eastward rotation of the Earth
Density
The mass per unit volume of an object or fluid.
Pressure
At the Earth's surface air molecules are tightly packed, and they become less densely packed and cooler. Cool air masses hold less water than warm ones. They then sink downwards, and afterwards and become less dense and heat up.
Putting it All Together:
The air currents of the world do not go in one great circle from pole to pole, but in three in each hemisphere. These are called cells.
Define and explain: Hadley Cells
Hadley cells exist between the equator and the 30 degrees latitude lines. The air in them loses moisture by rainfall at the equator, then rises up before falling back down at 30 degrees north or south. The Coriolis effect makes them blow Eastern trade winds.
( Will) Ferrel Cells
These cells exist between the 30 and 50 degree latitude lines. The air is made by the Coriolis effect to blow Westerly winds
Polar Cells
These cells exist in between the 50 latitude lines and the poles. They go toward the equator till they get enough heat and moisture to rise, then they blow towards the poles.
Horse Latitudes
These exist in intersections between Hadley and Ferrel cells. They have high atmospheric pressure and little surface winds.
Doldrums
These exist in between two Hadley cells, at the equator. They
have calm equatorial winds.
Warm air is inherently less dense than cold air, so it weighs less and rises.
Cold air is much denser, so it falls.
What is the general pattern of wind currents on the globe?
Air warms, expands and rises at the equator, then cools, contracts and sinks once it reaches the poles.
Global circulation is driven by which two processes?
1. Uneven Solar Heating on the Earth
2. The eastward rotation of the Earth
Density
The mass per unit volume of an object or fluid.
Pressure
At the Earth's surface air molecules are tightly packed, and they become less densely packed and cooler. Cool air masses hold less water than warm ones. They then sink downwards, and afterwards and become less dense and heat up.
Putting it All Together:
The air currents of the world do not go in one great circle from pole to pole, but in three in each hemisphere. These are called cells.
Define and explain: Hadley Cells
Hadley cells exist between the equator and the 30 degrees latitude lines. The air in them loses moisture by rainfall at the equator, then rises up before falling back down at 30 degrees north or south. The Coriolis effect makes them blow Eastern trade winds.
( Will) Ferrel Cells
These cells exist between the 30 and 50 degree latitude lines. The air is made by the Coriolis effect to blow Westerly winds
Polar Cells
These cells exist in between the 50 latitude lines and the poles. They go toward the equator till they get enough heat and moisture to rise, then they blow towards the poles.
Horse Latitudes
These exist in intersections between Hadley and Ferrel cells. They have high atmospheric pressure and little surface winds.
Doldrums
These exist in between two Hadley cells, at the equator. They
have calm equatorial winds.