Global atmospheric circulation

From GeoClasses

• Reading
  • Chapter 13. Lutgens and Tarbuck, or
  • Chapter 6. Christopherson, or
  • Chapter 8. Aguardo and Bert

Approved website sources

atmospheric circulation (very basic)

jetstream and global winds click on "giving rise to the jet stream" for a good tutorial

Contents 1 Global atmospheric circulation 2 Ocean currents 3 Ocean-atmospheric circulation 4 Regional and local circulation systems

Global atmospheric circulation

• What drives atmospheric and oceanic motion?
  • Single hemispheric circulation cell
  • The Coriolis effect
  • Effect of coriolis on atmospheric circulation
  • Major air masses and fronts
    • Polar air mass
      • Sub-polar low
    • Tropical air mass
      • Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)
      • Sub-tropical high
    • Wind belts
    • Jet streams

• Seasonal variation in global pressure

General circulation model

Illustrating movement in the Hadley cell

Seasonal motion

Seasonal motion with static position (star)

Ocean currents

• Surface ocean currents
• Thermohaline circulation

Ocean-atmospheric circulation

• ENSO - El Niño-La Niña Southern Oscillation
• NAO - North Atlantic Oscillation

Regional and local circulation systems

• Mid-latitude cyclones
  • Weather in Memphis: Memphis: April 2nd, 2006 thunderstorms
  • Memphis:Thunderstorm of April 7th

• Rain shadow