ZOL 303 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Westerlies, Intertropical Convergence Zone, Trade Winds
Document Summary
Atmospheric circulation: driving force is uneven heating, warm air rises, cool air sinks, convection current, expect air to rise at equator and sink at poles, air circulation dependent on uneven heating and rotation of earth. Atmospheric circulation cells: hadley cell tropical cell, air rises at equator and moves toward poles. Gradually deflected eastward: temp. decreases due to precipitation and expansion, becomes more dense, drier and cooler. (high atm. Intersection or cells air is moving vertically: unstable winds, doldrums calm equatorial areas where air rises. Intertropical convergence zone, itcz: humid, low atm. Intersection of cells only place where identical cells meet: air sinking at 30 is arid, great deserts in this region, high evaporation, high salinity, high atm. Topex/poseidon wind speed: at 50 s, strongest winds because there"s nothing to slow them down, creates roughest waves in the world, (cid:862)terror of the horn(cid:863) south american tip.
