PLANETARY SCALE CIRCULATION of the
EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE

Lecture 3 - Fall 1997

To sketch on a map the principal components of the global-scale wind circulation regime.
To sketch and label a diagram showing the idealized three - cell model of global atmospheric circulation, identifying the Hadley and Ferrel cells.
To describe the results of the "dishpan experiments" and how they simulate the global scale atmospheric circulations.
To describe the seasonal changes in the major features of the global-scale circulation regime.
To discuss the influence of ocean - continent distribution on global pressure distribution.
To describe the seasonal variations in the monsoon wind regime, focusing upon the monsoon system of south Asia.
To relate the named prevailing wind fields to the global air pressure distribution.
To distinguish between macroscale, mesoscale and microscale atmospheric motions.
To describe and explain the seasonal distribution of precipitation at representative locations.
To describe the relationship between the Southern Oscillation and a major El Niño event.

Locating and naming the semi-permanent Surface Pressure "Centers of Action"
Relationships between Prevailing winds and Major Pressure Patterns
Relationships between "Centers of Action" and Major Biome Patterns
- Tropical Rain Forests
- Subtropical Deserts
- Polar Deserts

Last revision 10 November 1997

Produced by Edward J. Hopkins, Ph.D.

Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI 53706

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