Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulations

Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulations

Wind Essentials Driving Forces within the Atmosphere Atmospheric Patterns of Motion Oceanic Currents

Wind Essentials
Air Pressure and Its Measurement
Mercury barometer Aneroid barometer

Wind: Description and Measurement

Wind Anemometer Wind vane

Barometers

Air Pressure Readings

Wind Vane and Anemometer

Driving Forces within the Atmosphere

Gravity Pressure Gradient Force Coriolis Force Friction Force

Pressure Gradient

Pressure Gradient Force

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Figure 6.7

Pressure + Coriolis

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Figure 6.7

Pressure + Coriolis + Friction

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Figure 6.7

Coriolis Force

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Figure 6.8

Atmospheric Patterns of Motion

Primary High-Pressure and Low-Pressure Areas Upper Atmospheric Circulation Multiyear Oscillations Local Winds Monsoonal Winds

Global Barometric Pressure

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Figure 6.9

Global Barometric Pressure

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Figure 6.9

Primary High-Pressure and Low-Pressure Areas

Equatorial low-pressure trough Subtropical high-pressure cells Subpolar low-pressure cells Polar high-pressure cells

Equatorial Low-Pressure Trough

Intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) Trade winds

January ITCZ

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Figure 6.10

July ITCZ

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Figure 6.10

Polar High-Pressure Cells

Polar easterlies Antarctic high

Subtropical High-Pressure Cells

Westerlies Bermuda high Azores high Pacific high

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Figure 6.12

Subpolar Low-Pressure Cells

Aleutian low Icelandic low Polar front

General Atmospheric Circulation

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Figure 6.11

General Atmospheric Circulation

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Figure 6.11

Polar and Subpolar Circulation

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Figure 6.13

Constant Isobaric Surface

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Figure 6.14

Upper Atmospheric Circulation

Rossby waves Jet stream

Rossby Waves

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Figure 6.15

Jet Streams

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Figure 6.16

Local Winds
Land-sea breezes Mountain-valley breezes Katabatic winds

Land-Sea Breezes

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Figure 6.17

Mountain Valley Breezes

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Figure 6.18

Monsoonal Winds

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Figure 6.19

Oceanic Currents
Surface Currents Thermohaline Currents

Major Ocean Currents

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Figure 6.20

Deep-Ocean Thermohaline Circulation

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Figure 6.22

End of Chapter 6
Geosystems 8e
An Introduction to Physical Geography
Robert W. Christopherson Charlie Thomsen

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