1. GCM’s Heating of the Earth
Uneven Solar Energy Inputs: Earth is heated unevenly by the sun due to different angles of incidence between the horizon and Sun
This angle of incidence is affected two factors:
Latitude: solar inputs are most dense when the sun is overhead in the tropics; reflection is low. The reverse holds true in polar regions.
Season: Due to Earth’s annual orbit around the Sun on an axis tilted by 23.5º.

2. Autumnal equinox Sept 22nd
Vernal equinox March 22nd
Winter solstice Dec 22nd
Autumnal equinox Sept 22nd
Summer solstice June 22nd

3. Earth receiving solar energy
When solar radiation reaches the Earth…….
Equator receives a greater amount of short-wave radiation.
Differential heating
Poles receive less sunlight due to the inclination of the poles compared to the incoming electromagnetic radiation.
The graph below states = more heat is received and gained between 30 degrees north and south of the Equator. Compared to the polar regions (60 degrees – 90 degrees N/S of the equator = experiences a loss of heat.
The Global Heat Budget with Latitude:
Losses by long-wave radiation is fairly constant at most latitudes, whereas inputs are variable and greatest in the tropics

4. Solar Radiation and Heating of the Earth’s surface
Heat inputs from the tropics are delivered to the poles via atmospheric and ocean circulation, each delivering about 50% of the tropical heat.
These circulation patterns are partly due to heat gradients, or more accurately pressure gradients.
What does this unbalance of heating create on the EARTH?

5. What happens to the radiation once it hits the Earth’s atmosphere and surfaces.
Solar constant = constant amount of energy being received from the Sun by the Earth = 100%
Out of the 100% of solar radiation - 47% of incoming solar radiation is absorbed by Earth’s surface
30% is radiated and transferred back into space
23% is absorbed by atmospheric gases, clouds and particles
Earth absorbs 47% of solar radiation, of which 50% is transferred into the atmosphere by evaporation and latent heat of vaporization

6. Convection Currents in the Atmosphere
WARM AIR RISES –
COLD AIR SINKS
Solar Radiation is received by the EARTH
Lithosphere/crust is heated by radiative energy from the Sun.
47% of electromagnetic spectrum received
Conduction occurs with the Earth’s rocky surface heating the lowest layer of the atmosphere – troposphere.
The heated tropospheric air RISES due to movement and density (energy). As the parcel of air moves further away from the surface (heat) temperature decreases. The colder air at higher altitudes starts to become dense and starts to SINK

7. HADLEY CELL
Discovered in 1735 by George Hadley – formalized the wind pattern associated with trade winds.
Equator is heated unevenly and consistently with incoming solar radiation
Troposphere is heated by the surface due to radiated heat by the tropics and equatorial regions.
Warm moist (evaporation) air mass is caused to rise towards the tropopause.
Convection current is created when the rising air is pushed poleward and descends due to a change in temperature
Air pressure at the equator is low due to rising air – this DRAGS in air from the surrounding latitudes to replace the rising air.
Low pressure (cyclonic) system exists over the equatorial regions
Descending air (30^N/S) from the troposphere contains little to no water vapor and creates high pressure.

8. Ferrel & Polar Polar cell:
Dominated by a persistent descending air over the polar regions 80-90^N/S which creates high pressure (anticyclone) system – no rain
Surface level winds moving equatorial regions towards 60^ low pressure belt.
Ferrel
The in-between convection cell created in an ideal model between HADLEY and POLAR.
Air movement is characterized by the joining of the Polar and Hadley cells across the mid-latitudes both north and south of the equator.
30-60^N/S
Between 30^ high pressure and 60^ low pressure.
At each end of the Ferrel convective cell – JET STREAMS are produced at the 7-12km altitude due to changes in pressure and temperature between the POLAR- FERREL – HADLEY cells.
Low pressure belt is created when the rising air at 60^ is being constantly replaced by air
Mixing of the northern air mass (cold) and southern air mass (warm)
Creation of the WESTERLIES which move surface level air from 30^-60^ from the west to the east .

9. Ferrel & Polar Cells

10. Ferrel & Polar Cells

11. The Atmospheric Circulation System

12. Wind Patterns created by low/high pressure and convection currents
Convection currents in the troposphere create areas of low pressure and high pressure.
Low pressure = drags air towards (converging air)
High pressure = air is moved away and dragged towards the low pressure (diverging air)
These global areas of high and low pressure create stable and consistent wind belts across the Earth’s surface.
Westerlies = wind comes from the WEST
Easterlies = wind comes from the EAST
Doldrums = converging air mass,
area in-between the converging & lifting
air.
Doldrums also called the ITCZ
Intertropical convergence zone
WESTERLIES – air is being dragged
towards the sub-polar LOW pressure
and away from the sub-tropical HIGH.
EASTERLIES – air is being diverted
away from the sub-tropical HIGH and
Drawn/dragged towards the ITCZ.

13. Wind Patterns created by low/high pressure and convection currents
Again, there are three atmospheric convection cells per hemisphere (Hadley, Ferrel, and Polar).
Low pressure belts are where air rises and climate is wet (Intertropical Convergence Zone (0º) and Polar Front (60º)).
High pressure belts are where climate is dry (Horse Latitudes (30º) and Polar High (90º)).
Surface winds converge at low pressure belts:
ITCZ: NE & SE Trade Winds (easterlies).
Polar Front: Westerlies and Polar Easterlies.
There are latitudinal shifts in these patterns with season.

14. JET STREAMS – Rivers of AIR
- “Fast flowing, narrow air currents found in the atmosphere between 7-12km”
Troposphere
Two sets of jet streams in each hemisphere – Sub-tropical and polar or mid-latitude
Located at different pressures according to their strength and consequential wind speed
Located between two large air masses
Created by large differences in temperature caused by meeting atmospheric convection cells.
Mid-latitude jet stream – Polar and Ferrel cell
Sub-tropical jet stream – Ferrel and Hadley