The primary feature of atmospheric circulation is the organized pattern of east-west winds, most notably the eastward-blowing jet streams found in the midlatitudes of each hemisphere.
To understand this better, here's a more detailed breakdown of the key features:
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East-West Wind Patterns: The atmosphere exhibits a distinct organization into prevailing wind patterns that generally flow from east to west. These are driven by a combination of factors.
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Jet Streams:
- These high-altitude, fast-flowing winds are a dominant characteristic.
- They are located in the midlatitudes (approximately 30-60 degrees latitude).
- Critically important for weather patterns, affecting storm tracks and temperature distribution.
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Hadley Cells: These are large-scale circulation patterns near the equator, characterized by rising air at the equator, poleward flow at high altitude, sinking air at around 30 degrees latitude, and equatorward flow near the surface. This creates the trade winds.
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Ferrel Cells: Situated in the mid-latitudes, these cells are driven by the Hadley and Polar cells, and are characterized by surface winds that flow toward the poles.
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Polar Cells: These cells are located near the poles and are characterized by sinking air at the poles, equatorward flow at the surface, rising air around 60 degrees latitude, and poleward flow at high altitude.
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Coriolis Effect: The rotation of the Earth deflects winds to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere, significantly influencing the direction of wind patterns.
In short, atmospheric circulation is a complex system driven by differential heating of the Earth's surface and influenced by the Coriolis effect, resulting in recognizable global wind patterns and the prominent feature of jet streams.
