ENVS 2270 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Halocline, Horse Latitudes, Coriolis Force
12 Oct 2016
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Document Summary
3 cell model of atmospheric circulation (still idealized) High pressure zones: descending air, subtropical highs - 30 degrees latitude, polar highs - -90 degrees latitude, clear skies. Low pressure zones: rising air, equatorial low - equator, subpolar lows - 60 degrees latitude, overcast skies with lots of precipitation. In reality circulation is more complex due to: Thursday, january 21, 2016: seasonal changes, distributions of continents and oceans. Differences in heat capacity between continents and oceans. North east trade winds - coming from the north toward the equator, because of the coriolis. South east trade winds - coming from the south toward the equator, because of the coriolis. 30-60 degree latitude winds are being powered by the ferrel cell, and are moving in the opposite direction - towards the south, and are being de ected right by the coriolis effect: called the prevailing westernlies. Doldrums or intertropical convergence zone (itcz) at equator: wind meets or converges, fairly calm.
