GLOBAL AIR CIRCULATION
WIND AS AN AGENT OF GLABAL AIR CIRCULATION
pressure to a lowLP
Always moves from a high HP pressure
Pressure gradient force: difference in pressure
Greater pressure gradient force means stronger wind
Isobars show pressure on a synoptic chart
Air pressure is measured in hectopascals or millibars
• Steep pressure gradient – isobars close together
• Gentle pressure gradient – isobars far apart
Ferrell’s law:
Air will be deflected to the left of its intended path in the
southern hemisphere
Air will be deflected to the right of its intended path in the
northern hemisphere
, UNICELLULAR MODEL OF GLOBAL AIR CIRCULATION
Warm air rises at the equator and moves towards to poles, it cools
down and moves back towards the equator
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
Force per unit area exerted against a surface by the weight of the
column of air resting on the surface
WORLD PRESSURE BELTS
Polar high
Subpolar low
Subtropical high
Equatorial low
Subtropical high
Subpolar low
Polar high
WIND AS AN AGENT OF GLABAL AIR CIRCULATION
pressure to a lowLP
Always moves from a high HP pressure
Pressure gradient force: difference in pressure
Greater pressure gradient force means stronger wind
Isobars show pressure on a synoptic chart
Air pressure is measured in hectopascals or millibars
• Steep pressure gradient – isobars close together
• Gentle pressure gradient – isobars far apart
Ferrell’s law:
Air will be deflected to the left of its intended path in the
southern hemisphere
Air will be deflected to the right of its intended path in the
northern hemisphere
, UNICELLULAR MODEL OF GLOBAL AIR CIRCULATION
Warm air rises at the equator and moves towards to poles, it cools
down and moves back towards the equator
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
Force per unit area exerted against a surface by the weight of the
column of air resting on the surface
WORLD PRESSURE BELTS
Polar high
Subpolar low
Subtropical high
Equatorial low
Subtropical high
Subpolar low
Polar high
