Atmospheric Circulation System: Determining Regional Climate (Research Paper Sample)

Atmospheric circulation system
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Abstract
Atmospheric circulation is the main topic of this paper. The paper has covered why and how the atmospheric circulation system on synoptic and larger scales helps in determining the regional climate on the planet earth. Also, it has focuses on different circulations and cell- models that cause the climate change. Therefore, according to the information in the paper, it is apparently evident that, temperature, climate, and precipitation are affected by the atmospheric circulation system
Introduction
Atmospheric circulation is a natural process, involves the movement of air in large scales. This distribution is of great importance in generating energy on the earth surface since, they combine with the ocean currents, and in the process, heat is produced, and this may cause the global warming. Nevertheless, the atmospheric circulation varies depending on the climatic changes for instance, in the hot seasons, the atmospheric circulation large-scale cells move towards the pole. On the other hand, the atmospheric circulation can also cause the release of heat on the earth's surface when it combines with the ocean current. However, such kind of flows are never continuous; they move at different intervals every year (Oort, 2015). The primary aim of this paper is based on how and why the atmospheric circulation system on synoptic and larger scales help determine the regional climates on planet earth.
How and why the atmospheric circulation system on synoptic and larger scales determines the regional climate on planet earth.
Synoptic majorly concerned with the distribution of conditions of meteorology over a large area at a specific period. Therefore the meteorological conditions entail the climatic changes such as the air movement, water vapor in the atmosphere among others. The wind circulation in the atmosphere is usually facilitated by the earth rotation as well as the heat energy from the sun. On the synoptic chart, the wind movement takes place in three different cells where it transports the power and heat majorly from the equator to the poles; this makes this helps determine the climate of a given place at that particular time. Moreover, the air circulation on the synoptic determines the regional environment because the winds are moved by the suns energy, this makes the warm air to rise while the cold air sinks hence warming the earth. Also, the synoptic chart helps determine the climate of a place through the atmospheric circulation whereby, the temperature of an area is recorded in degrees Celsius, the pressure in millibars, wind speed and direction is noted, cloud cover (Bjerknes, 2016) just as presented in the chart below:
Synoptic showing the atmospheric circulation
​ ​
(Manabe, 2013).
Cell- models of the atmospheric circulation
There are three different cell models of the general circulation of air, and they include; the Hadley, Ferrel and polar cells. Therefore Hadley cells are found closer to the equator. However, at this point, weak wind passes because of the low air pressure which usually passes horizontally. Also at the equator, the warm air rises hence creating clouds, therefore, instability in the atmosphere, this causes the climatic change in a given place. On the contrary, the uncertainty in the equator brings about the thunderstorm leading to the development of the latent heat.
Hadley circulation cell
(Wilby and Wigley, 2013)
Ferrel cell
Ferrel cell consists of the diverging air that is mainly found at the surface of the globe close to 30N. The air moves towards the pole and is directed to the east by the Coriolis force leading to the emergence of the westerly wind at the surface of the earth. However, at about 60N the air then rises, cools and condense to form clouds together with precipitation, this changes the climate of a specific area on the planet earth (Bardossy and plate, 2015).
Polar cell
At the poles, the air warms due to the sinking atmosphere in this place; this creates high pressure over the poles whereas at the surface the air moving towards the pole is pulled to the right by Coriolis force majorly found at the northern hemisphere and it forms polar easterly wind. Moreover, the arctic air which is normally cold mix together with the warm subtropical air moving towards the pole forming arctic front which is the boundary between the two air masses. The polar front is the primary factor that facilitates the change of climate in the United States mostly in fall, winter, and springs (Huijun, 2014).
Convergence,​ ​divergence, and​ ​vertical​ ​motion​ ​patterns,​ ​role​ ​in​ ​precipitation
The diverging air is found at the surface of the earth whereby the air moved toward the pole and directed to the east by the Coriolis force hence, forming the westerly wind. Therefore at 60N the air rises, cools and condense to make clouds and precipitation, this brings about a great change in climate. On the other hand, in convergence, the wind moves away in different directions this prevents the air from moving towards the pole. Therefore even at 60N, or precipitation does not take place vertical motion also causes the air currents to move under high pressure hence leading to the falling of the water drops on the earth surface
Coriolis force
The motion of air currents is governed by the Coriolis force because the earth is a rotating sphere. Therefore as the whole sphere moves around its axis majorly from west to east, every point on the surface of the globe moves in a circular motion around the radius to the center of the earth. This shows that the Earth velocity is equal to one rotation around the axis of the earth in a day just as shown in the equation below:
Ω = 2π/84600 = 7.27 x 10-5 rad/sec
(Oort and Rasmusson, 2012).
Rossby waves
Rossby waves are one of the waves found naturally in the atmosphere and the ocean. The wave’s formation takes place during the rotation of the planets. Therefore, the stream affects the circulation of air in the sea hence interfering with the weather and the climate of the whole world. Nevertheless, the waves travel at high speed from west to east around the earth. The wave also interferes with the current and push them away from their origin; the slightest move affects the climate over a large area. For that reason, the wave is seen to be the cause of the difference in temperature between the land, sea, and different land masses
Rossby waves
(Vecchi et. Al, 2011)
Jet streams
Jet streams are usually the moving air ribbons in the atmosphere. Also, it is described as being the most important means of transport for weather systems. Also, the jet stream has got a high amount of winds while the length is in the range of a thousand miles while width and depth have got several miles.
Monsoon circulations
Monsoon circulations usually are the wind directions which are seasonal and are accompanied by the changes in precipitation. Therefore, such changes cause seasonal variations in rainfall as well as the atmospheric circulation. On the other hand, the monsoon circulation causes land and sea heating. On the contrary, there are different monsoon system that entails; the Asia-Australian and the West African monsoons. Therefore, the winds noted occurs typically as a result of pressure difference between the two locations. However, the hurricane does not arise when such imbalance is created. Also when there is the temperature difference between two land masses during summer tend to carry precipitation inform of heavy rain because they usually are sea breeze. For that reason, the moist air bearing precipitation is moved to the ground (Huijun, 2014).Therefore, it is evident that the monsoon causes the changes in temperature just as shown below:
Summary
Atmospheric circulation is one of the critical studies carried out by the meteorologists. The flow takes place in an extraordinary manner since it is natural. The distribution is important since it facilitates the generation of heat on the earth surface as a result of combining with other ocean currents. When heat is produced, the global warming may occur. Also, the atmospheric circulations take place by the changes in the climate where the large scales cells move towards the pole. The atmospheric circulation system on synoptic and large scales determines the regi...