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4: Atmospheric and Ocean Circulation

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    Hurricane waves break on sea wall
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Hurricane-generated waves break on sea wall (Courtesy NOAA)

    The atmosphere around us is in constant motion, even if we don't feel the wind across our face. Molecules of air dart about transferring heat and moisture from one place to the next at a variety of geographic scales. The video provided depicts the worldwide wind patterns and the movements of ascending and descending air masses, illustrating their connection to precipitation.

    Video: Global Atmospheric Circulation

    In this chapter you will learn how winds at a variety of spatial scales form and what controls their behavior. You'll look at how atmospheric pressure and wind patterns influence weather and climate. Finally you will delve into what causes oceanic circulation and how it relates to atmospheric motion.

    Learning Objectives

    By the end of the chapter you should be able to:

    • Define air pressure and what determines air pressure at a place.
    • Describe the forces acting on wind and how they affect wind direction and speed.
    • Interpret the strength of a pressure gradient from a weather map.
    • Determine wind speed and direction from a weather map.
    • Draw a diagram of the air flow around highs and lows in the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
    • Explain the relationship between upper-air circulation and surface pressure systems.
    • Explain how land/sea breeze, mountain/valley, and Santa Ana winds form.
    • Explain how the monsoon circulation operates.
    • Describe how El Nino/La Nina conditions form and their effects.
    • Construct a diagram and label the global pattern of pressure and wind.
    • Describe the potential impact of global warming on atmospheric circulation.

    See if you are prepared for this chapter by Getting Ready for Chapter 4: Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulation.

    4: Atmospheric and Ocean Circulation is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Arnaud Temme, Kansas State University.