Coriolis Effect Deflection of moving objectslarge masses due

Coriolis Effect: • Deflection of moving objects/large masses due to the rotation of Earth on its axis (EX: currents & missiles) – Northern Hemisphere: RIGHT – Southern Hemisphere: LEFT • Rotational speed is dependent on latitude: – Poles = slow – Equator = fast • Coriolis Effect is greater near the poles & nonexistent @ the equator

Coriolis Effect Animation

Circulation Cells: • Due to uneven heating from the sun (Earth’s tilt) & the Coriolis Effect, 6 large convection currents exist in the atmosphere: • Hadley Cells: Tropics (0 -30 O N & S latitude) • Ferrel Cells: Temperate (30 -60 O N & S latitude) • Polar Cells: Polar (60 -90 O N & S latitude) • These give rise to Global Wind Patterns

Uneven Heating of Earth:

Circulation Cells (convection currents): 90 O 60 O 30 O 0 O

Global Wind Patterns: • Doldrums: @ 0 O latitude (equator), calm surface winds due to convergence of Hadley Cells • ITCZ (Intertropical Convergence Zone): Occurs @ the Doldrums; strong heating causes surface air to expand, become less dense, & rise into atmosphere

Global Wind Patterns: • Trade Winds: 0 -30 O N & S latitude; E W (easterlies); constant, persistent winds; surface winds of Hadley Cells • Horse Latitudes: @ 30 O N & S latitude; sinking of cold, dense air between Hadley & Ferrel Cells; calm surface winds

Global Wind Patterns: • Westerlies: 30 -60 O N & S latitudes; W E; surface winds of Ferrel Cells • Polar Easterlies: 60 -90 O N & S latitudes; E W; strong surface winds of Polar Cells

Southern Ocean– Polar Easterlies

Monsoons: • Seasonal wind variations • Usually wet summers & dry winters • Related to heat capacity of land & water

Asian Summer • Most intense summer monsoons occur in Asia • Land heats faster/easier than water • Asian continent heats during summer & winds from Indian Ocean move in bringing water vapor • Vapor condenses over land creating precipitation • Cherrapunji of NE India receives 10 metres (425 inches) of rain per year (most from April – October)

Rain, & more Rain (but only in the Summer)

Asian Winter • Dry • Winds blow from land to Indian Ocean

Asian Winter