Chapter 6Atmospheric and Oceanic

Circulations Geosystems 6e

An Introduction to Physical Geography

Robert W. ChristophersonCharles E. Thomsen

Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulations

Wind Essentials  

Driving Forces Within the Atmosphere  

Atmospheric Patterns of Motion  

Oceanic Currents  

Wind EssentialsAir Pressure and Its Measurement  

Mercury barometer

Aneroid barometer

Wind: Description and Measurement  Wind

Anemometer

Wind vane

Global Winds  

Barometers

Figure 6.2

Air Pressure Readings

Figure 6.3

Wind Vane and Anemometer

Figure 6.4

Wind Portrait of the Pacific Ocean

Figure 6.6

Driving Forces Within the Atmosphere  

Gravity

Pressure Gradient Force  

Coriolis Force  

Friction Force  

Pressure Gradient

Figure 6.7

Pressure + Coriolis + Friction

Figure 6.8

Coriolis Force

Figure 6.9

500 mb Pressure Map

Figure 6.10

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

Upper Atmospheric Circulation  

Local Winds  

Monsoonal Winds  

Global Barometric Pressure

Figure 6.11

Global Barometric Pressure

Figure 6.11

Primary High-Pressure and Low-Pressure Areas

Equatorial low-pressure trough

Polar high-pressure cells

Subtropical high-pressure cells

Subpolar low-pressure cells

Equatorial Low-pressure TroughIntertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)

Trade winds

Polar High-pressure CellsPolar easterlies

Antarctic high

Subtropical High-pressure Cells

Westerlies

Bermuda high

Azores high

Pacific high

Figure 6.14

Subpolar Low-pressure CellsAleutian low

Icelandic low

Polar front

General Atmospheric Circulation

Figure 6.13

General Atmospheric Circulation

Figure 6.13

Constant Isobaric Surface

Figure 6.16

Upper Atmospheric CirculationRossby waves

Jet stream

Rossby Waves

Figure 6.17

Jet Streams

Figure 6.18

Local WindsLand-sea breezes

Mountain-valley breezes

Katabatic winds

Land-Sea Breezes

Figure 6.19

Mountain-Valley breeze

Figure 6.20

Monsoonal Winds

Figure 6.21

Oceanic CurrentsSurface Currents  

Deep Currents  

Major Ocean Currents

Figure 6.22

Deep Currents

Figure 6.23

End of Chapter 6

Geosystems 5eAn Introduction to Physical Geography

Robert W. ChristophersonCharlie Thomsen