Page 88 - The World About Us

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1.1.1
2.2.32.3.4

How does atmospheric circulation create extreme weather?

Global atmospheric circula on is air descending rapidly on the other the winds interact with other factors
extremely complex but it does allow side of the mountains may create such as mountain ranges, cold ocean
climatologists to discern dis nct very dry condi ons. currents and con nental land masses.
clima c regions. In some of these Atmospheric circula on The extreme aridity of the Sahara,
regions atmospheric circula on may determines the prevailing wind Namib and Atacama Deserts is a
combine with other factors, such as direc on. Where there are very combina on of the descending air of
relief, al tude and la tude, to create strong circulatory winds, such as the the Sub-Tropical High Pressure, trade
extreme weather condi ons.
Trade Winds or Polar Easterlies, these winds blowing over dry land, rain
Warm, moist air being forced to can become one of the most shadows caused by high mountain
rise rapidly over steep mountains can important factors determining the ranges and the cold ocean currents
create intense relief rainfall. The same weather. This is especially true when which flow along the coasts.

Coldest places on Earth Fig.230 Global pa erns of extreme weather. Klinck Research Sta on
Unsurprisingly the coldest places on
Earth are found near the two Poles. Snag
Energy received from the Sun is very low
and descending air blows outwards as icy Mt. McKinlay
Easterly winds.
Dome Fuji ridge, East Antarc c Plateau,
is the coldest place on Earth at -93.2 C
Vostock Sta on, Antarc ca: -89.2 C Bridge Creek
Dome A, Antarc c Plateau: -82.5 C Death Valley
Fig.231 Greenland.
South Pole, Antarc ca: -82 C
Oymyakon, Russia: -67.7 C
Mt McKininley, Alaska: -73.8 C
Verkhoyansk, Russia: -69.8 C
Aoulet
Klinck sta on, Greenland: -69.4 C Aziziyah
Snag, Yukon, Canada: -63 C
Windiest places on Earth Fig.232 Tornado.

Wind is simply air moving from one
place to another. The circula on of air in
the atmosphere is bound to generate Tutendo
winds. Where air is funnelled between Bioko
mountain ranges or land masses as the
earth rotates, wind speeds can increase Fig.233 Bioko.
drama cally. Certain weather condi ons
also generate extreme winds, including
hurricanes, tornadoes and Antarc ca’s
down-slope kataba c winds.
Commonwealth Bay, Antarc ca. Winds Extreme rainfall Iquique
blowing off the plateau can reach Pelican Point
240km/h and average 80km/h all year.
Bridge Creek, Oklahoma. On the so- Extreme cold Arica
called Tornado Alley, these spinning Fig.234 Cape Horn.
thunderstorms have seen winds peaking
at over 400km/h. Extreme winds Ica
Barrow Island, Australia. Gusts in excess
of 420km/h were recorded here during Extreme aridity
Cyclone Olivia in 2010. Cape Horn
Wellington, New Zealand. Winds can
reach 246km/h and can blow at gale force Extreme heat
for 233 days a year as air is funnelled
between the North and South Islands.
Cape Blanco, Oregon, USA. This coastal Dome Fuji Ridge
loca on can have winds of 210km/h.

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The global circulation of the atmosphere controls weather and climate.