Air Pressure & Atmospheric Circulation

(Winds,Hadley & Ferrel's Model)

Check out Previous Years Prelims Questions
Trends- Air Circulation/Cyclones/Moisture in
Atmosphere
Given below are two statements one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other labelled as Reason (R). [1996]

Assertion (A) : Areas near the equator receive rainfall throughout the year.
Reason (R) : High temperatures and high humidity cause convectional rain in most afternoons near the equator.
In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R true but R is not a correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
Which one of the following stars is nearest to the Earth? [1997]

(a) Polaris (b) Alpha Centauri

(c) Sun (d) Sirius
Which one of the following conditions is most relevant for the presence of life on Mars? [1997]

(a) Atmospheric composition

(b) Thermal conditions
(c) Occurrence of ice caps and frozen water
(d) Occurrence of ozone
Consider the following statements regarding asteroids: [1998]

1. Asteroids are rocky debris of varying size orbiting the sun

2. Most of the asteroids are small but some have diameter as large and 1000 km
3. The orbit of asteroids lies between the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn Of these statements:
(a) 1, 2 and 3 are correct (b) 2 and 3 are correct
(c) 1 and 2 are correct (d) 1 and 3 are correct
Which one of the areas marked as A, B, C and D in the given figure of the cyclone, witnesses heavy
torrential short duration rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms? [1999

(a) A (b) B
(c) C (d) D
Consider the following statements about the 'Roaring Forties': [2000]

1. They blow uninterrupted in the northern and Southern Hemispheres

2. They blow with great strength and constancy
3. Their direction is generally from north-west to east in the Southern Hemisphere
4. Overcast skies, rain and raw weather are generally associated with them

Which of these statements are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 3 and 4 (d) 1, 2 and 4
Why are dewdrops not formed on a cloudy night?
(a) Clouds absorb the radiation released from the Earth's
surface.
(b) Clouds reflect back the Earth's radiation.
(c) The Earth's surface would have the low temperature
on cloudy nights.
(d) Clouds deflect the blowing wind to ground level.
Which one of the following weather conditions is indicated by a sudden fall in barometer reading? [2001]

(a) Stormy (b) Calm weather

(c) Cold and dry weather
(d) Hot and sunny weather
Sun's halo is produced by the refraction of light in: [2002]

(a) water vapour in Stratus clouds

(b) ice crystals in Cirro-Cumulus clouds
(c) ice crystals in Cirrus clouds
(d) dust particles in Stratus clouds
Assertion (A) : 60° - 65º latitudes in both the hemispheres have a low pressure belt instead of high pressure.
Reason (R) : The low pressure areas are permanent over oceans rather than on land. [2002]

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

(b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT a correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
Assertion (A) : The surface winds spiral inwards upon the centre of the cyclone.
Reason (R) : Air descends in the centre of the cyclone. [2002]

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

(b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT a correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
Consider the following climatic and geographical phenomena: [2002]

1. Condensation
2. High temperature and humidity
3. Orography
4. Vertical wind

Thunder cloud development is due to which of these

phenomena?
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 3 and 4 (d) 1, 2 , 3 and 4
Assertion (A) : The amount of moisture in the atmosphere is related to latitude
Reason (R) : The capacity to hold moisture in the form of water vapour is related to temperature. [2003]

(a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
Assertion (A) : Thickness of the atmosphere is maximum over the Equator.
Reason (R) : High insolation and strong convection currents occur over the Equator. [2004]

(a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
Assertion (A) : The same face of the moon is always presented to the earth.
Reason (R) : The moon rotates about its own axis in 23 and half days which is about the same time that it takes to
orbit the earth. [2005]

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

(b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT a correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
Assertion (A) : Wind patterns are clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and anti-clockwise in the Southern
Hemisphere.
Reason (R) : The directions of wind patterns in the Northern and the Southern Hemisphere are governed by the
Coriolis effect.

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

(b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT a correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
What causes wind to deflect toward left in the Southern Hemisphere? [2010]

(a) Temperature
(b) Magnetic field
(c) Rotation of the earth
(d) Pressure
What is difference between asteroids and comets ?

1. Asteroids are small rocky planetoids, while comets are formed of frozen gases held together by rocky and metallic
material.
2. Asteroids are found mostly between the orbits of Jupiter and Mars, while comets are found mostly between Venus
and Mercury.
3. Comets show a perceptible glowing tail, while asteroids do not. [2011 - I]

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 3 only (d) 1,2 and 3
Westerlies in southern hemisphere are stronger and persistent than in northern hemisphere. Why ? [2011 -
I]

1. Southern hemisphere has less landmass as compared to northern hemisphere.

2. Coriolis force is higher in southern hemisphere as compared to northern hemisphere.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
What could be the main reason/reasons for the formation of African and Eurasian desert belt ? [2011 - I]

1. It is located in the sub-tropical high pressure cells.

2. It is under the influence of warm ocean currents.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct in

this context ?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
The jet aircrafts fly very easily and smoothly in the lower stratosphere. What could be the appropriate
explanation ?

1. There are no clouds or water vapour in the lower stratosphere.

2. There are no vertical winds in the lower stratosphere.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct in

this context ? [2011 - I]
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Normally, the temperature decreases with the increase in height from the Earth’s surface, because [2012 - I]

1. the atmosphere can be heated upwards only from the Earth's surface
2. there is more moisture in the upper atmosphere
3. the air is less dense in the upper atmosphere

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
Which one of the following is the characteristic climate of the Tropical Savannah Region? [2012 - I]

(a) Rainfall throughout the year

(b) Rainfall in winter only
(c) An extremely short dry season
(d) A definite dry and wet season
Consider the following statements [2015 - I]

1. The winds which blow between 30° N and 60° S latitudes throughout the year are known as westerlies.
2. The moist air masses that cause winter rains in North-Western region of India are part of westerlies.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
"Each day is more or less the same, the morning is clear and bright with a sea breeze; as the Sun climbs high in the
sky, heat mounts up, dark clouds form, then rain comes with thunder and lightning. But rain is soon over." Which of
the following regions is described in the above passage? [2015 - I]

(a) Savannah (b) Equatorial

(c) Monsoon (d) Mediterranean
In the South Atlantic and South-Eastern Pacific regions in tropical latitudes, cyclone does not originate.
What is the reason? [2015 - I]

(a) Sea surface temperatures are low

(b) Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone seldom occurs
(c) Coriolis force is too weak
(d) Absence of land in those regions
 Atmospheric Circulation Pressure Belts
 • The movement of air in the atmosphere due to the uneven distribution of
temperature over the surface of the earth is known as Atmospheric
Circulation
 Air expands when heated and gets compressed when cooled. This results in
variations in the atmospheric pressure. The result is that it causes the
movement of air from high pressure to low pressure, setting the air in motion
 Atmospheric pressure also determines when the air will rise or sink.
 Wind
• Air in horizontal motion is wind.
• The wind redistributes the heat and moisture across the planet, thereby,
maintaining a constant temperature for the planet as a whole.
• The vertical rising of moist air cools it down to form the clouds and bring
precipitation.
Atmospheric Pressure
• The weight of a column of air contained in a unit area from the mean sea level
to the top of the atmosphere is called the atmospheric pressure.
• The atmospheric pressure is expressed in units of millibars.
• At sea level the average atmospheric pressure is 1,013.2 millibars.
Due to gravity the air at the surface is denser and hence has higher pressure.
 Forces Affecting the Velocity and Direction of Wind

 The wind blows from high pressure to low pressure.

 The wind at the surface experiences friction.
 In addition, rotation of the earth also affects the wind movement.
 The force exerted by the rotation of the earth is known as the Coriolis force.
 Thus, the horizontal winds near the earth surface respond to the combined effect of
three forces – the pressure gradient force, the frictional force and the Coriolis force.
In addition, the gravitational force acts downward.
 Pressure Gradient Force
The differences in atmospheric pressure produce a force. The rate of change of
pressure with respect to distance is the pressure gradient. The pressure gradient is
strong where the isobars are close to each other and is weak where the isobars are
apart.
 Frictional Force
It affects the speed of the wind. It is greatest at the surface and its influence
generally extends up to an elevation of 1 – 3 km. Over the sea surface the friction is
minimal.
 Coriolis Force
 his force is called the Coriolis force after the French physicist who described it in 1844. It
deflects the wind to the right direction in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the
southern hemisphere.
 It is maximum at the poles and is absent at the equator.
 The Coriolis force acts perpendicular to the pressure gradient force.
 The higher the pressure gradient force, the more is the velocity of the wind and the larger is
the deflection in the direction of wind.
 Geostrophic Wind
 • When isobars are straight and when there is no friction, the pressure gradient
force is balanced by the Coriolis force and the resultant wind blows parallel to
the isobar. This wind is known as the Geostrohpic wind.
 Horizontal Distribution of Pressure
 Small differences in pressure are highly significant in terms of the wind direction and
velocity. Horizontal distribution of pressure is studied by drawing isobars at constant levels.
 Isobars are lines connecting places having equal pressure. In order to eliminate the effect of
altitude on pressure, it is measured at any station after being reduced to sea level for
purposes of comparison.
 .
 The spacing of isobars expresses the rate and direction of pressure changes and is referred to as pressure
gradient.
 Close spacing of isobars indicates a steep or strong pressure gradient, while wide spacing suggests weak
gradient. The pressure gradient may thus be defined as the decrease in pressure per unit distance in the
direction in which the pressure decreases most rapidly.
 There are distinctly identifiable zones of homogeneous horizontal pressure regimes or ‘pressure belts’. On
the earth’s surface, there are in all seven pressure belts.
 The seven pressure belts are :
 equatorial low,
 2 the sub-tropical highs,
 2 the sub-polar lows, and
 2 the polar highs
 Equatorial Low Pressure Belt or ‘Doldrums’
 Lies between 10°N and 10°S latitudes.
 Width may vary between 5°N and 5°S and 20°N and 20°S.
 This belt happens to be the zone of convergence of trade winds from two
hemispheres from sub-tropical high pressure belts.
 This belt is also called the Doldrums, because of the extremely calm air movements.
 The position of the belt varies with the apparent movement of the Sun
 Formation
 As this region lies along the equator, it receives highest amount of insolation.
 Due to intense heating, air gets warmed up and rises over the equatorial region
(convection).
 Whenever there is vertically upward movement of air, the region at the surface will
be at low pressure. Thus the belt along the equator is called equatorial low pressure
belt.
 Sub-Tropical High Pressure Belt or Horse Latitudes
 The sub-tropical highs extend from near the tropics to about 35°N and S.
 Formation
 After saturation (complete loss of moisture) at the ITCZ, the air moving away from equatorial
low pressure belt in the upper troposphere becomes dry and cold.
 This dry and cold wind subsides at 30°N and S.
 So the high pressure along this belt is due to subsidence of air coming from the equatorial
region which descends after becoming heavy.
 The high pressure is also due to the blocking effect of air at upper levels because of the Coriolis
force.
 Climate
 The subsiding air is warm and dry, therefore, most of the deserts are present along this belt, in
both hemispheres.
 A calm condition (anticyclonic) with feeble winds is created in this high pressure belt.
 The descending air currents feed the winds blowing towards adjoining low pressure belts.
 This belt is frequently invaded by tropical and extra-tropical disturbances.
 Horse Latitudes
 The corresponding latitudes of sub-tropical high pressure belt are called horse latitudes.
 In early days, the sailing vessels with cargo of horses found it difficult to sail under calm
conditions of this high pressure belt.
 They used to throw horses into the sea when fodder ran out. Hence the name horse latitudes.
 Sub-Polar Low Pressure Belt
 Located between 45°N and S latitudes and the Arctic and the Antarctic circles (66.5°
N and S latitudes).
 Owning to low temperatures in these latitudes the sub polar low pressure belts are
not very well pronounced year long.
 On long-term mean climatic maps, the sub polar low-pressure belts of the northern
hemisphere are grouped into two centers of atmospheric activity: the Iceland low
and the Aleutian depression (Aleutian low).
 Such belts in the southern hemisphere surround the periphery of Antarctica and are
not as well differentiated.
 Formation
 These are dynamically produced due to
 Coriolis Force produced by rotation of the earth on its axis, and.
 Ascent of air as a result of convergence of westerlies and polar easterlies (we will more about these in next
topic – wind systems).
 Sub polar low-pressure belts are mainly encountered above
 Polar High Pressure Belt
 The polar highs are small in area and extend around the poles.
 They lie around poles between 80 – 90° N and S latitudes.
 Formation
 The air from sub-polar low pressure belts after saturation becomes dry. This dry air
becomes cold while moving towards poles through upper troposphere.
 The cold air (heavy) on reaching poles subsides creating a high pressure belt at the
surface of earth.
 Hadley Cell
 The air at the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) rises because of the convection
currents caused by low pressure. Low pressure in turn occurs due to high insolation. The
winds from the tropics converge at this low pressure zone.
 The converged air rises along with the convective cell. It reaches the top of the troposphere
up to an altitude of 14 km, and moves towards the poles. This causes accumulation of air at
about 30° N and S. Part of the accumulated air sinks to the ground and forms a subtropical
high. Another reason for sinking is the cooling of air when it reaches 30° N and S latitudes.
 Down below near the land surface the air flows towards the equator as the easterlies. The
easterlies from either side of the equator converge in the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone
(ITCZ). Such circulations from the surface upwards and vice-versa are called cells. Such a cell
in the tropics is called Hadley Cell.
 Ferrel Cell
 In the middle latitudes the circulation is that of sinking cold air that comes from the poles and the rising
warm air that blows from the subtropical high. At the surface these winds are called westerlies and the cell is
known as the Ferrel cell.

 Polar Cell
 At polar latitudes the cold dense air subsides near the poles and blows towards middle latitudes as the polar
easterlies. This cell is called the polar cell.
 These three cells set the pattern for the general circulation of the atmosphere. The transfer of heat energy
from lower latitudes to higher latitudes maintains the general circulation.
 The general circulation of the atmosphere also affects the oceans. The large-scale winds of the atmosphere
initiate large and slow moving currents of the ocean. Oceans in turn provide input of energy and water
vapour into the air. These interactions take place rather slowly over a large part of the ocean.
 Classification of Winds
 Permanent winds or Primary winds or Prevailing winds or Planetary Winds
 The trade winds, westerlies and easterlies.
 Secondary or Periodic Winds
 Seasonal winds: These winds change their direction in different seasons. For example
monsoons in India.
 Periodic winds: Land and sea breeze, mountain and valley breeze.
 Local winds
 These blow only during a particular period of the day or year in a small area.
 Winds like Loo, Mistral, Foehn, Bora.
 Primary Winds or Prevailing Winds or Permanent Winds or
Planetary Winds
 These are the planetary winds which blow extensively over continents and oceans.
 Trade Winds
 The trade winds are those blowing from the sub-tropical high pressure areas towards
the equatorial low pressure belt.
 Therefore, these are confined to a region between 30°N and 30°S throughout the earth’s
surface.
 They flow as the north-eastern trades in the northern hemisphere and the south-eastern
trades in the southern hemisphere.
 This deflection in their ideally expected north-south direction is explained on the basis
of Coriolis force and Ferrell's law.
 Trade winds are descending and stable in areas of their origin (sub-tropical high pressure
belt), and as they reach the equator, they become humid and warmer after picking up
moisture on their way.
 The trade winds from two hemispheres meet at the equator, and due to convergence they
rise and cause heavy rainfall.
 The eastern parts of the trade winds associated with the cool ocean currents are drier and
more stable than the western parts of the ocean.
 Westerlies
 The westerlies are the winds blowing from the sub-tropical high pressure belts towards the sub
polar low pressure belts.
 They blow from southwest to north-east in the northern hemisphere and north-west to south-
east in the southern hemisphere.
 The westerlies of the southern hemisphere are stronger and persistent due to the vast expanse
of water, while those of the northern hemisphere are irregular because of uneven relief of vast
land-masses.
 The westerlies are best developed between 40° and 65°S latitudes. These latitudes are often
called Roaring Forties, Furious Fifties, and Shrieking Sixties – dreaded terms for sailors.
 The poleward boundary of the westerlies is highly fluctuating. There are many seasonal and
short-term fluctuations. These winds produce wet spells and variability in weather.
 Polar easterlies
 The Polar easterlies are dry, cold prevailing winds blowing from north-east
to south-west direction in Northern Hemisphere and south-east to north-
west in Southern Hemisphere.
 They blow from the polar high-pressure areas of the sub-polar lows.