Atmospheric Circulation The atmosphere serves as a conduit to allow for the transfer of energy around earth s system Three different types of circulation Differ in regard to spacial extent o Primary massive airflows that are important in nature o Secondary o Tertiary Pressure F ma or Force divided by area over which that force acts Force per unit area Mass in this mass of the atmosphere The force is the weight of the atmosphere 1 kg cm2 14 7 lbs in2 at sea level Pressure Gradient force gradiant means there s a difference between a high level and low level Going from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure Important in determining the concept of wind Ex when a balloon is deflated it flows down the pressure gradient because it wants to equalize the pressure everywhere Wind moves DOWN GRADIANT because it moves from a high pressure area to a low pressure There is a huge pressure gradient between the inside and outside plane so if the plane is breached everyone gets sucked out of the plane Pressure is going from inside of plane to outside of plane Airplanes have to pull the door in then push it out so that people can t just open the door How do you develop differences in pressure naturally across earth s surface o Temp differences result in differences in air pressure o Pressure gradient between grassy area and concrete because there is a slight temp difference On a hypothetical planet made of only asphalt and not spinning pressure is going to flow from the poles to the equator Real earth is rotating on its access Because the earth is spinning it generates the Coriolis Effect The air moving from the poles to the equator veers because the earth is spinning In the Northern hemisphere the air appears to veer to the right in the southern the left relative to the pole so if you were driving form the north pole you turn left There are huge differences on the planet ie land and water that aren t distributed in an even way If it is warm at the equator and there is low pressure then the air rises up into the atmosphere As air rises it cools so the air starts to drop Pressure moves form equator to pole then goes back down to equator This is perceived as wind The air doesn t make it all the way to the pole instead it only makes it to about 30 degrees N and 30 degrees south which is a high pressure area Localized low area at 600N high pressure at 300N they alternated between high and low pressure
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