Climate
- Created by: Charlie Davies
- Created on: 19-05-14 16:09
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- Wind & Ocean Currents
- WINDS
- Process
- 1. at equator the sun warms the earth which transfers heat to air above causing it to rise.
- rising air=low pressure, clouds and rain. Called ITCZ(low pressure zone of rising air)
- ITCZ: Changes according to seasons
- 21st June sun directly above Tropic of Cancer= ITCZ North of Equator
- 21st December Above Tropic of Capricorn= ITCZ moves into Southern Hemisphere
- ITCZ: Changes according to seasons
- rising air=low pressure, clouds and rain. Called ITCZ(low pressure zone of rising air)
- 3. 30o North and South of Equator the cool air sinks creating high pressure sub-tropical jet streams
- 4. The cool air reaches the ground surface and moves as surface winds either back to equator or towards the poles
- surface winds blowing towards the equator are called trade winds
- They blow from the SE in southern hemisphere and from the NE in northern hemisphere
- At the equator these trade winds converge in the ITCZ and are heated by solar radiation
- causes them to rise, condense and form clouds
- At the equator these trade winds converge in the ITCZ and are heated by solar radiation
- They blow from the SE in southern hemisphere and from the NE in northern hemisphere
- Surface winds blowing towards the poles are called westerlies
- they blow from NW in southern hemisphere and SW in northern hemisphere
- surface winds blowing towards the equator are called trade winds
- 6. Some of the air joins Ferrel Cell and moves back towards the equator and the rest joins polar cell and moves towards poles
- 5. 60o North and South of Equator
- warmer surface winds meet cooler air from poles
- warmer air is less dense than cold air so it rises creating low pressure
- warmer surface winds meet cooler air from poles
- 7. At the poles the cool air sinks creating high pressure. The high pressure air us drawn back towards equator in surface winds
- 1. at equator the sun warms the earth which transfers heat to air above causing it to rise.
- Process
- OCEANS
- Ocean currents are large scale movements of water caused by different water density
- Density depends on water temp. and salinity
- currents affected by surface winds, position of land masses and other currents
- Ocean currents transfer heat energy from warmer to cooler regions
- warm ocean currents raise air temp. which warns land nearby
- cool ocean currents lower air temp, which cools land nearby
- Ocean currents form giant loops that travel clockwise in northern hemisphere and anticlockwise in southern hemisphere
- because of surface winds
- Affect the climate
- Gulf stream: carries warm water from Caribbean Sea across Atlantic to Western Europe
- Water in gulf stream cools in northern hemisphere and becomes more dense
- some of it sinks and is carried back to equator by Canary current which colls west coast of Africa
- Water in gulf stream cools in northern hemisphere and becomes more dense
- Gulf stream: carries warm water from Caribbean Sea across Atlantic to Western Europe
- Ocean currents are large scale movements of water caused by different water density
- WINDS
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