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Parameters

ATMOSPHERIC
CIRCULATION

Figure 1 View of Earth from Apollo 17 with Moon’s surface in the foreground.
Source: http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/data/ev216/ev21611_apollo.jpg (Accessed 14/1/08)

What is it?

Global atmospheric circulation and the global wind systems are all about the
redistribution of heat by and within the atmosphere and the oceans. Figure 2 shows
what the global wind system would be if the Earth were completely covered with
water. In reality though, the existence of large landmasses significantly disturbs this
theoretical pattern.

Along the equator, hot converging air rises. In the lower atmosphere, pressure is
low. At about 30 degrees North and South the air descends and there is high pressure
at the Earth’s surface. There is therefore a pressure gradient from the subtropical
highs towards the equatorial low (Figure 2) and, as winds blow from areas of high
pressure to areas of low pressure, equatorward winds result. These are the Trade
Winds.

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 Figure 2: Theoretical Atmospheric Circulation. Source: Ref 4.

You will notice that the Trade Winds blow from the northeast and southeast, and
not directly from North and South. Why is this? The answer is the Coriolis force. Away
from the Equator (where the force is zero), the Coriolis force acts to deflect winds and
currents to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern
Hemisphere.

Note: that the Trade Winds are named the Southeast and Northeast Trades because they come from the
southeast and the northeast. However, you should bear in mind that although winds are always described in
terms of where they are blowing from, currents are described in terms of where they are flowing towards.
Thus, a southerly current flows towards the south and a southerly wind blows from the south.

Figure 3: Cross-section of Theoretical Atmospheric Circulation. Source: Ref 1.

The Trade Winds form part of the atmospheric circulation known as the Hadley
circulation, or Hadley cells, which can be seen on Figure 2 and in more detail on
Figure 3 and 4. Because the flow is deflected by the Coriolis force, in three dimensions
the circulation follows an approximately spiral pattern, as shown schematically in
Figure 4 (next page).

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 Figure 4: Spiral Circulation Pattern. Source: Ref 1.

Figure 5 below shows the prevailing winds at the Earth's surface in (a) July and (b)
January. Note that away from land over large areas of ocean, the actual and
hypothetical winds are similar.

Figure 5 (a): Prevailing Wind at the Earth’s Surface in January. Source: Ref 4.

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 Figure 5 (b): Prevailing Wind at the Earth’s Surface in July. Source: Ref 4

Comparing Figure 5 (a) and (b), you will see that the greatest seasonal change
occurs in the region of the Eurasian land mass.

During the northern winter, the direction of prevailing winds is outwards from
the Eurasian land mass; by the summer, the winds have reversed and are generally
blowing in towards the landmass. This is because continental masses cool down and
heat up faster than the oceans (their thermal capacity is lower than that of the oceans)
and so in winter they are colder than the oceans, and in summer they are warmer.
Thus, in winter the air above the Eurasian land mass is cooled, becomes denser and
sinks, so that a high pressure area develops. Winds blow out FROM this to regions of
lower pressure.

In the summer, the situation is reversed: air over the Eurasian land mass heats up
and becomes less dense, so that there is a region of low pressure which winds blow
TOWARDS. The oceanic regions most affected by these seasonal changes are the
Indian Ocean and the western tropical Pacific, where the seasonally reversing winds
are known as monsoons.

The distribution of ocean and continent also influences the position of the
zone along which the wind systems of the two hemispheres converge. This zone of
convergence - now as the “Intertropical Convergence Zone” or ITCZ - generally
associated with the Zone of highest surface temperature. Because the continental
masses heat up faster than the ocean in summer and cool faster in winter, the ITCZ
tends to be distorted southwards over land in the southern summer and northwards
over land in the northern summer (Figure 5).

What’s the Relevance?

If we understand what is going on with atmospheric circulation at a global level,

then we can better understand why the weather is the way it is locally in our region. It
helps us to better understand seasonal variations and why changes in one part of the
world affect other parts.

Though we have so far only considered the atmosphere, we need to appreciate that
the atmosphere and the ocean form one system and that they have to be considered

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 together if they are to be fully understood. What occurs in one affects the other, and
the two are linked by complex feedback loops.

Why and Where Does it Matter for Shell?

 Because it is fundamental.

If the Metocean Engineer is to give considered advice on design criteria and

climate statistics, then a clear understanding of the fundamental processes at work is
essential. In particular, considering how these processes vary on timescales of hours,
days, months and years – and how this might impact your application - is a relevant
aspect of the advice he/she gives you.

As a Metocean User, having an appreciation of the fundamentals helps you to

better understand the why the climate in your region is the way that it is and why it
varies during the year and from one year to the next.

To learn more …

 Search the web for relevant sites.

 Refer to relevant books and publications in your OU or local library.

 Post any questions in the Q&A area in TeleTOP.

References

1. Ocean Circulation, Open University Team, Published by Butterworth Heinemann,

2001, ISBN: 0750652780.

2. The Atmosphere, Anthes R.A., et al, Published by Bell & Howell Company,
1978.ISBN 0-675-08423-7.

3. Eastern Illinois University, Atmospheric Circulation,

http://www.ux1.eiu.edu/~cfjps/1400/circulation.html [Accessed 14/1/2008]

4. The Atmosphere, 8th edition, Lutgens and Tarbuck, 8th edition, 2001

Additional Resources

1. Eastern Illinois University, Atmospheric Circulation,

http://www.ux1.eiu.edu/~cfjps/1400/circulation.html [Accessed 14/1/2008]

2. University of Florida,
http://ess.geology.ufl.edu/ess/Notes/AtmosphericCirculation/atmosphere.html
[Accessed 14/1/2008]

3. University of Wisconsin, Department of Geography, Atmospheric Circulation.

http://www-pord.ucsd.edu/~ltalley/sio210/Atmosphere/ [Accessed 14/1/2008]

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4. University of East Anglia, UK, Climate Research Unit, Information Sheets.
http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/cru/info/ [Accessed 14/1/2008]

5. American Institute of Physics, History of Global Circulation Models,

http://www.aip.org/history/sloan/gcm/intro.html [Accessed 14/1/2008]

6. University of Indiana, Atmospheric Circulation,

http://www.indiana.edu/%7Eg131/atmos.html [Accessed 14/1/2008]

7. Google search: “Atmospheric Circulation”.