What kind of surface wind patterns occur due to the interaction of atmospheric cells. What are some of the effects on climate where these occur?
· At the boundaries between circulation cells, air moves vertically. This can cause surface winds to be very weak and erratic.
· There are very calm equatorial waters in the area where Hadley cells converge. This area was termed the doldrums by sailors. Scientists call this region the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) to reflect what is happening in the area.
· The strong heating in the ITCZ causes air to expand and rise. The humid air loses its moisture while rising. This corresponds to tropical rainforests on land.
· Weak surface winds and high atmospheric pressure occur where Hadley and Ferrel cells meet. These areas have sinking air which is quite dry.
· The Hadley-Ferrel convergence areas lie around 30° latitude. This convergence corresponds to the world's largest deserts. This is due to the compressional heating as the air begins to sink on its journey towards the poles. In the ocean, these areas are referred to as horse latitudes. This is in reference to sailors having to eat or toss livestock overboard once they ran out of feed when stuck in these areas.
· The rapid horizontal movement of air happens in zones between ascending and descending air. These move from zones of high pressure to those of low pressure. The result is strong, dependable winds¾the most constant being the trade winds.
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