Page 178 - Geosystems An Introduction to Physical Geography 4th Canadian Edition

6
concepts
key learning
Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulations
After reading the chapter, you should be able to:
• Define the concept of air pressure, and describe instruments used to measure air pressure.
• Define wind, and explain how wind is measured, how wind direction is deter- mined, and how winds are named.
• Explain the four driving forces within the atmosphere—gravity, pressure gradient force, Coriolis force, and friction force—and locate the primary high- and low-pressure areas and principal winds.
• Describe upper-air circulation, and define the jet streams.
• Explain the regional monsoons and several types of local winds.
• Sketch the basic pattern of earth’s major surface ocean currents and deep thermohaline circulation.
• Summarize several multiyear oscillations of air temperature, air pressure, and circulation associated with the arctic, atlantic, and Pacific Oceans.
Wind turbines line the horizon near lake erie in southern Ontario, a province that that ranks first out of 10 provinces and two territories contributing to overall Canadian wind energy production. Worldwide, wind energy is growing at about 10% every
year. in Canada, installed wind power capacity increased 14-fold between 2005 and 2014. Wind is a primary driver of earth’s atmospheric and oceanic circulation patterns, discussed in this chapter.
[Dennis Haggerty/erie Shores Wind Farm.]