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1. What is atmospheric circulation and how does it affect weather patterns?
Ans. Atmospheric circulation refers to the large-scale movement of air around the Earth. It is influenced by various factors such as temperature, pressure, and the Earth's rotation. This circulation plays a crucial role in determining weather patterns by redistributing heat and moisture across the globe. For example, the circulation of warm air towards the poles and cold air towards the equator helps create the different climate zones we observe.
2. What are the major global wind belts and how do they contribute to atmospheric circulation?
Ans. The major global wind belts include the trade winds, westerlies, and polar easterlies. These wind belts are created due to the uneven heating of the Earth's surface and the rotation of the Earth. The trade winds blow towards the equator, the westerlies blow towards the poles, and the polar easterlies blow away from the poles. These wind belts play a crucial role in redistributing heat and moisture, driving the atmospheric circulation patterns.
3. How does the Coriolis effect influence atmospheric circulation?
Ans. The Coriolis effect is the deflection of moving objects, including air, caused by the rotation of the Earth. It causes moving air to be deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. This effect influences the direction of wind patterns, creating the curved paths of the trade winds, westerlies, and polar easterlies. The Coriolis effect is a key factor in shaping the circulation patterns of the atmosphere.
4. What are the Hadley, Ferrel, and Polar cells in atmospheric circulation?
Ans. The Hadley cell is a tropical atmospheric circulation cell that occurs between the equator and approximately 30 degrees latitude. It is characterized by warm air rising at the equator, moving towards the poles at high altitudes, and descending back to the surface around 30 degrees latitude. The Ferrel cell exists between approximately 30 degrees and 60 degrees latitude, while the Polar cell exists between approximately 60 degrees latitude and the poles. These cells play a significant role in redistributing heat and moisture, shaping global weather patterns.
5. How does atmospheric circulation contribute to the formation of weather phenomena such as hurricanes and monsoons?
Ans. Atmospheric circulation plays a crucial role in the formation of weather phenomena such as hurricanes and monsoons. Hurricanes, for example, form in tropical regions where warm, moist air rises and converges, creating a low-pressure system. The rotation of the Earth and the Coriolis effect then cause the air to spiral inward, forming the characteristic circular shape of a hurricane. Monsoons, on the other hand, are driven by the seasonal reversal of wind patterns due to differential heating of land and sea. This reversal of wind direction is a result of atmospheric circulation patterns.
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