GEOG 3010 Final: Exam 3 notes
Document Summary
The three-cell model gives a fairly accurate representation of what actually happens in the atmosphere: average surface pressure/wind a. i. Major features shift seasonally w/the high sun a. ii. 1. Subtropical highs strongest in summer (based on hadley cell) a. ii. 4. Subtropical lows strongest in winter (based on stronger temp gradient: general circulation and precipitation patterns b. i. Upper air patterns: north south pressure gradient at high altitudes creates west east winds, particularly at mid and high latitudes, nearly all upper level winds are westerly in both hemispheres b. i. Exception: the equatorial side of the subtropical highs c. Winds increase with altitude because of c. i. 1. c. i. 2. Thousands of km long, several hundred knots, a few km thick c. iii. Polar front jet at 40-60 degrees, subtropical jet at 30ish degrees c. iv. Established by steep temperature and pressure gradients between circulation cells c. v. Play a major role in meridianal transport of heat.
