Global Winds

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Global Winds Noun

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[gloh-buhl windz]

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Global Winds

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Winds that occur in large, steady belts that go all around the planet, driven by unequal solar heating.

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Example: This diagram shows Earth's major global wind patterns, including the Westerlies and the Trade Winds, and the general direction in which they blow.

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Convection Currents Noun

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[kuhn-vek-shuhn kur-uhnts]

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Convection Currents

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The movement of air in the troposphere caused by temperature differences, where warm air rises and cool air sinks.

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Example: Warm air over land rises, and cooler air from the sea moves in to replace it. This circular movement of air is a convection current.

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Atmospheric Circulation Cells Noun

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[at-muhs-fer-ik sur-kyoo-ley-shuhn selz]

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Atmospheric Circulation Cells

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The six huge convection currents in the troposphere that circulate air globally, influencing weather patterns across the planet.

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Example: This diagram shows Earth's atmospheric circulation cells, where warm air (red arrows) rises and moves poleward, and cool air (blue arrows) sinks and returns.

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Troposphere Noun

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[troh-puh-sfeer]

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Troposphere

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The lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere, where most weather phenomena and large-scale convection currents occur.

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Example: This diagram shows the Troposphere is the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere, extending from the surface up to about 10 kilometers in altitude.

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Tropopause Noun

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[troh-puh-pawz]

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Tropopause

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The atmospheric boundary at the top of the troposphere that acts as a ceiling, which rising air cannot pass.

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Example: This diagram shows the tropopause as the boundary layer between the lower troposphere, where clouds form, and the upper stratosphere.

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Low Pressure Zone Noun

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[loh presh-er zohn]

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Low Pressure Zone

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An atmospheric region created by rising warm air, which is often associated with cloudy conditions, rainfall, and storms.

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Example: In a low-pressure zone, converging warm and cold air forces moist air upward, causing it to cool and form clouds, leading to stormy weather.

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High Pressure Zone Noun

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[hahy presh-er zohn]

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High Pressure Zone

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An atmospheric region created by sinking cool air, which is often associated with clear skies and dry conditions.

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Example: This image shows that higher pressure occurs at lower altitudes because there is more air (a heavier column of air) pushing down from above.

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Coriolis Effect Noun

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[kawr-ee-oh-lis ih-fekt]

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Coriolis Effect

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The deflection of moving objects, like wind, caused by Earth's rotation, making them follow a curved path.

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Example: Because the Earth rotates at different speeds at different latitudes, moving objects like wind are deflected from a straight path—to the right in the Northern Hemisphere.

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Hadley Cell Noun

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[had-lee sel]

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Hadley Cell

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A large-scale atmospheric convection cell in which air rises at the equator and sinks at about 30° latitude.

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Example: Warm air rises at a low-pressure zone, cools and sinks at a high-pressure zone, and flows back, creating a large circular wind pattern.

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Ferrel Cell Noun

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[fer-uhl sel]

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Ferrel Cell

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The atmospheric circulation cell in the mid-latitudes between the Hadley and Polar cells, from approximately 30° to 60° latitude.

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Example: This diagram shows the Ferrel cell as a global wind belt in the mid-latitudes, located between the Hadley and Polar cells, driving weather patterns.