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1. Coriolis Deflection
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2. Atmospheric Processes
Air pressure differences create the global wind field. Coriolis deflection causes winds to blow in the direction in which they do. Air Pressure: P = density x g x height
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3. Equatorial atmospheric circulation – Walker cell
isobaric surfaces Walker Cell Strong convection in W Pac, Congo, Amazon
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4. Meridional air circulation cells
Trades - return flow in the Hadley/Walker cell system 4. Meridional air circulation cells
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5. http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/data/
Note the strong convection in: a) the western tropical Pacific, b) along ~5-10ºN (ITCZ), and c) along º (Polar Fronts) 5.
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Animation of last 2 weeks of cloud cover
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6. Global Wind Fields
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- Heat flux from equator to polar regions
HORSE LATITUDES DOLDRUMS Ferrel Cell LOW Produced by: - Heat flux from equator to polar regions - Coriolis effects on winds
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7. Global Air Pressure Distribution
Icelandic Low Aleutian Low
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8. Summer/Winter Pressure Variations
Permanent Highs over Indian S Pac, S Atl, Permanent Low over Southern Ocean High over N Pac and N Atl modified by Aleutian Low and Icelandic Low
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9. Global wind speeds
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Seasonal Variations of ITCZ and generation of Tropical Depressions
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Seasonal excursion of the ITCZ
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SE trades become SW when crossing the Equator to the N (Coriolis)
This generates a Tropical Depression
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Similar variability of the ITCZ in the Pacific
Wind Convergence [δu/δx + δv/δy (10- 5 sec-1)] (Liu and Xie, NASA)
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10. Location of formation of tropical storms/hurricanes
Steered by oceanic tropical anticyclone – Trades / Westerlies
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11.
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Very rare hurricane in the South Atlantic – March 2004
(Movie of hurricane)
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