Concept information

atmosphere > atmospheric process > air movement

Preferred term

air movement  

Definition

  • Air movements within the Earth's atmospheric circulation; also called planetary winds. Two main components are recognized: first, the latitudinal meridional component due to the Coriolis force (a deflecting motion or force discussed by G.G. de Coriolis in 1835. The rotation of the Earth causes a body moving across its surface to be deflected to the right in the N hemisphere and to the left in the S hemisphere); and secondly, the longitudinal component and the vertical movement, resulting largely from varying pressure distributions due to differential heating and cooling of the Earth's surface.

Broader concept

Belongs to group

URI

http://www.eionet.europa.eu/gemet/concept/262

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