Air-Sea Interaction

The trade winds are found at what latitudes and blow in what direction (towards the equator or towards the poles)

0 to 30 degrees latitude; towards the equator

The westerlies are found at what latitudes and blow in what direction (towards the equator or towards the poles)

30 to 60 degrees latitude; towards the poles

Westerlies

Winds found in the Ferrel cells (30 to 60 degrees latitude). They are named westerlies because they originate or come out of the west.

Northeast Tradewinds

Winds found in the Northern Hemisphere in the Hadley cell (o to 30 degrees latitude). They get their name because they originate in the Northeast.

Polar Easterlies

Winds found in the Polar cells (60 to 90 degrees latitude). They get their name because the winds originate in the east.

Southeast Tradewinds

Winds found in the Southern Hemisphere in the Hadley cell (o to 30 degrees latitude). They get their name because they originate in the Southeast.

The polar easterlies are found at what latitudes and blow in what direction (towards the equator or towards the poles)

60 to 90 degrees latitude; towards the equator

Intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)

An area where weather and climate are affected by the meeting of the Northern and Southern Hadley cells

What can result when an air mass rapidly cools, causing water vapor to condense?

Rain or snow

Horse latitudes

Region at 30 degrees latitude in both hemispheres where dry air sinks along the boundary of the Hadley and Ferrel cells; winds can cease for extended periods; name came from carcasses of horses thrown overboard by stranded ships

Convection

A vertical circulation pattern in a gas or liquid caused by hot material rising and cold material sinking

The Coriolis Effect is caused by

The rotation of the Earth.

The Coriolis effect tends to influence the wind by giving it

A circular flow pattern

Doldrums

A region near the equator where the Tradewinds cease blowing for extended time periods. This caused sailors to be stranded for long time periods when they depended on wind for their ships.

Hadley cells

Atmospheric circulation cells between the equator and approximately 30 degrees latitude

What does air in the troposphere do as it heats up from the sun?

As the air heats up, it forms warm air masses that rise which in turn the colder denser air masses sink which causes convection currents.

Where are most of the Earth's major deserts located?

At about 30 degrees latitude, where the vertical airflow is downward and where the Hadley and Ferrel cells meet

Polar cells

Atmospheric circulation cell between approximately 60 to 90 latitude and the North or South Pole.

Ferrel cells

Atmospheric circulation cells between 30 and 60 degrees latitude

Why does the sun unevenly heat the Earth?

Because the Earth is a sphere, the Earth is tilted on its axis, and the Earth is in an elliptical orbit.

What direction does air circulate in a cyclone in the Northern Hemisphere because the low pressure that draws in the winds is stronger than the Coriolis effect?

Counterclockwise

Tropical cyclone

Inward circulation of air around a low-pressure system; it forms within a single atmospheric cell, usually in low latitudes

Cyclone

Large rotating storm system of low pressure air with converging winds at the center

Atmospheric circulation cells

Six distinct air masses (three in each hemisphere) with individual air flow patterns

Which direction does the Coriolis effect tend to cause an object to deflect to in the Southern Hemisphere?

The Coriolis Effect causes an object to deflect to the LEFT in the Southern Hemisphere.

Which direction does the Coriolis effect tend to cause an object to deflect to in the Northern Hemisphere?

The Coriolis Effect causes an object to deflect to the RIGHTS in the NORTHERN Hemisphere.

Coriolis effect

The tendency for the path of an object moving in the North Hemisphere to deflect to the right, or to deflect to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. It is strongest at the equator and has no effect at the poles. Its effect lessens the further you move away from the equator.

What are the four main layers of the atmosphere?

Thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, troposphere

What causes convection?

Warm air rising and cool air flowing in to replace it

Where does a tropical cyclone form?

Within any single atmospheric circulation cell (it could form within a Hadley cell, a Ferrel cell, or a Polar cell).