Understanding the Coriolis Effect
The Coriolis Effect Defined: What in the World is it?
The Coriolis effect is one of those terms that you hear used from time to time, but it never seems to get fully explained.The Coriolis effect is the apparent curvature of global winds, ocean currents, and everything else that moves freely across the Earth's surface.The effect was discovered by the nineteenth century French engineer Gaspard C. Coriolis.The Coriolis effect influences wind direction around the world in this way: in the Northern Hemisphere it curves winds to the right; in the Southern Hemisphere it curves them left. Coriolis Effect it is an important meteorological force that is used to predict the path of storms.
Warm Air Rises and Cold Air Falls- Why?
Surface Temperatures are higher at the equator than at the poles.
Air heats in the tropics, expands, becomes less dense, and rise towards the poles.
At the poles, the air cools and contracts by radiating heat into space, sinks to the tropics.
What is the general pattern of wind currents on the globe?
Winds and currents follow the general patterns of the world's major wind belts. The patterns of the wind, in particular, usually start at the equator with the help of the sun. Specific wind currents affect the climate of certain regions.
What is a convection current?
A convection current is a flow of a fluid or air due to heating and cooling of the fluid or air.If there is local heating of the air at some point, a convection current will be set up.An on shore breeze is one example.
Global circulation is driven by which two processes?
Global circulation is governed by two factors: Uneven Solar heating and The Rotaion 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 the Earth surface, air molecules are packed tightly, As air masses rise, they become less dense, expand, and cool. Cooler air masses hold less water than warm. As air masses fall, they becaome compressed and heat up.
Putting it All Together:
Define and explain:
Hadley Cells:
The Hadley cell is a circulation pattern that dominates the tropical atmosphere, with rising motion near theequator, poleward flow 10-15 kilometers above the surface, descending motion in the subtropics, and equator ward flow near the surface. This circulation is intimately related to the trade winds, tropical rain belts, subtropical deserts and the jet streams.
Ferrel Cells
The air blowing cell of southern and northern hemisphere is known as Ferrel cell.
Polar Cells
A Polar Cell is part or section of a three cell movement which involve Hadley Cells and Ferrel Cells. They show surface winds and atmospheric circulation and they allow condensation of cold air thus creating high pressure.
Horse Latitudes
This area of high atmospheric pressure and little surface wind is the subtropical high, which are dry bands centered around the 30 degree mark of the intersection of the Hadley and Ferrell cells
Doldrums
Sailors created this special term for the calm equatorial areas where the surface winds of the two Hadley Cells converge.
Quiz: Complete Online Quiz
The Coriolis effect is one of those terms that you hear used from time to time, but it never seems to get fully explained.The Coriolis effect is the apparent curvature of global winds, ocean currents, and everything else that moves freely across the Earth's surface.The effect was discovered by the nineteenth century French engineer Gaspard C. Coriolis.The Coriolis effect influences wind direction around the world in this way: in the Northern Hemisphere it curves winds to the right; in the Southern Hemisphere it curves them left. Coriolis Effect it is an important meteorological force that is used to predict the path of storms.
Warm Air Rises and Cold Air Falls- Why?
Surface Temperatures are higher at the equator than at the poles.
Air heats in the tropics, expands, becomes less dense, and rise towards the poles.
At the poles, the air cools and contracts by radiating heat into space, sinks to the tropics.
What is the general pattern of wind currents on the globe?
Winds and currents follow the general patterns of the world's major wind belts. The patterns of the wind, in particular, usually start at the equator with the help of the sun. Specific wind currents affect the climate of certain regions.
What is a convection current?
A convection current is a flow of a fluid or air due to heating and cooling of the fluid or air.If there is local heating of the air at some point, a convection current will be set up.An on shore breeze is one example.
Global circulation is driven by which two processes?
Global circulation is governed by two factors: Uneven Solar heating and The Rotaion 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 the Earth surface, air molecules are packed tightly, As air masses rise, they become less dense, expand, and cool. Cooler air masses hold less water than warm. As air masses fall, they becaome compressed and heat up.
Putting it All Together:
Define and explain:
Hadley Cells:
The Hadley cell is a circulation pattern that dominates the tropical atmosphere, with rising motion near theequator, poleward flow 10-15 kilometers above the surface, descending motion in the subtropics, and equator ward flow near the surface. This circulation is intimately related to the trade winds, tropical rain belts, subtropical deserts and the jet streams.
Ferrel Cells
The air blowing cell of southern and northern hemisphere is known as Ferrel cell.
Polar Cells
A Polar Cell is part or section of a three cell movement which involve Hadley Cells and Ferrel Cells. They show surface winds and atmospheric circulation and they allow condensation of cold air thus creating high pressure.
Horse Latitudes
This area of high atmospheric pressure and little surface wind is the subtropical high, which are dry bands centered around the 30 degree mark of the intersection of the Hadley and Ferrell cells
Doldrums
Sailors created this special term for the calm equatorial areas where the surface winds of the two Hadley Cells converge.
Quiz: Complete Online Quiz