1
Where are the 3 major places convection occurs on Earth?
Ocean, Atmosphere, and Mantle
What is global atmospheric circulation caused by?
The uneven heating of the Earth by the Sun
What is the name of the three cells that describe how air moves around the Earth?
Hadley, Ferrel, and Polar cells
What are the 2 main types of ocean currents called?
Surface and deep
Where do high and low pressure belts form?
Where the convection cells meet
What is the weather like near low pressure belts?
Which is more dense, warm water or cold water?
Cold water
Which is more dense, semi-salty water, or extremely salty water?
Extremely salty water
Fill in the blanks:
Since the air is moving faster at the equator, as it moves _________ it is deflected to the right. As it moves _________ it is reflected to the left. This phenomenon is known as the __________ __________.
Since the air is moving faster at the equator, as it moves north it is deflected to the right. As it moves south it is reflected to the left. This phenomenon is known as the Coriolis effect.
Why is global atmospheric circulation important for life on Earth?
It is important for life on Earth because it maintains a temperature that can support life by carrying heat from the equator to the poles.
Explain the following for the Polar cells:
1. What are the degrees latitude the cells are between
2. At each latitude explain what kind of air it is and what the air is doing.
1. Between 60 degrees north and south and 90 degrees north and south (the poles)
2. Warm, less dense air rises at 60 degrees north and south. Cold, more dense air sinks at 90 degrees north and south (the poles).
What is the weather like near high pressure?
Dry and clear skies.
What kind of pressure is found near the Equator?
Low Pressure
Are surface currents more likely to be warm or cold and why?
Surface currents are more likely to be warm because warm water is less dense and rises.
Regions located near warm ocean currents tend to have warmer and more humid climates.
Name an ocean current near the poles that brings cool water to the area in which it circulates around?
The California current
Explain the following for the Ferrel cells:
1. What are the degrees latitude the cells are between
2. At each latitude explain what kind of air it is and what the air is doing.
1. Between 30 degrees north and south to 60 degrees north and south.
2. Cold, more dense air sinks at 30 degrees north and south. Warm, less dense air rises at 60 degrees north and south.
Do winds move from areas of low pressure to high pressure or high pressure to low pressure?
High pressure to low pressure
When cold water rises to the surface, what does it bring with it?
Nutrients
Describe the climates near cold ocean currents.
Regions located near cold ocean currents tend to have cooler climates.
As a result of the Coriolis effect and the ocean currents, large circular patterns of rotating ocean water forms big, circular swirls of ocean water, known as what?
Gyres.
What is the name of the process in which cold deep water rises and brings up lots of nutrients from the ocean floor?
Upwelling
Explain the following for the Hadley cells:
1. What are the degrees latitude the cells are between
2. At each latitude explain what kind of air it is and what the air is doing.
1. Between the Equator (0 degrees) to 30 degrees N&S.
2. Warm, less dense air rises at the equator. Cold, more dense air sinks at 30 degrees north and south.
Name an ocean current near the equator that brings warm water to the areas it circulates around.
The Gulf Stream current
1. Name the three global winds that blow in a fairly constant, predictable pattern around the Earth.
2. For each name the direction they blow from and to, and
3. For each name the degrees they blow between
1. Tradewinds, Westerlies, and Easterlies
2. Tradewinds blow from east to west. Westerlies blow from west to east, and Easterlies blow from east to west.
3. Tradewinds between 0 degrees and 30 degrees latitude. Westerlies between 30 degrees and 60 degrees latitude. Easterlies between 60 degrees and 90 degrees latitude.