Chapter 4Atmospheric and Oceanic

Circulation Elemental Geosystems 5e

Robert W. ChristophersonCharles E. Thomsen

Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulation

Wind Essentials  

Driving Forces Within the Atmosphere  

Atmospheric Patterns of Motion  

Oceanic Currents  

Wind EssentialsAir Pressure and Its Measurement  

Wind: Description and Measurement  

Global Winds  

Barometers

Figure 4.2

Air Pressure Readings

Figure 4.3

Wind Vane and Anemometer

Figure 4.4

Wind Portrait of the Pacific Ocean

Figure 4.6

Driving Forces Within the Atmosphere  

Pressure Gradient Force  

Coriolis Force  

Friction Force  

Pressure Gradient

Figure 4.7

Pressure + Coriolis + Friction =Wind

Figure 4.8

Coriolis Force

Figure 4.9

500-mb Pressure Map

Figure 4.10

Atmospheric Patterns of Motion  Primary High-Pressure and Low-Pressure Areas  

Upper Atmospheric Circulation  

Multi-year Oscillations in Global Circulation

Local Winds  Monsoonal winds  

Global Barometric Pressure

Figure 4.11a

Global Barometric Pressure

Figure 4.11b

Primary High-Pressure and Low-Pressure Areas

Equatorial Low-Pressure Trough

Polar High-Pressure Cells

Subtropical High-Pressure Cells

Subpolar Low-Pressure Cells

Subtropical High-Pressure Cells

Westerlies

Bermuda High

Azores High

Pacific High

Figure 4.14

General Atmospheric Circulation

Figure 4.13a

General Atmospheric Circulation

Figure 4.13b

Rossby Waves

Figure 4.16

Jet Streams

Figure 4.17

Local WindsLand-Sea Breezes

Mountain-Valley Breezes

Katabatic Winds

Land-Sea Breezes

Figure 4.18

Mountain-Valley Breezes

Figure 4.19

The Asian Monsoon

Figure 4.20

Oceanic CurrentsSurface Currents  

Upwelling and Downwelling Flows

Thermohaline Circulation―The Deep Currents  

Major Ocean Currents

Figure 4.21

Pacific Ocean Currents

Figure 4.3.1

ThermohalineCirculation

Figure 4.22

End of Chapter 4

Elemental Geosystems 5e

Robert W. ChristophersonCharlie Thomsen