The global energy balance and atmospheric motion mainly determine

the circulation of the earth's atmosphere. There is a hierarchy of motion

in atmospheric circulation. Each control can be broken down into smaller

controlling factors. The global energy balance is an equal balance of

short-wave radiation coming into the atmosphere and long-wave radiation

going out of the atmosphere. This is called thermal equilibrium. The

earth is at thermal equilibrium; however, there can have a surplus or

deficit of energy in parts of the heat budget. If you have a net

radiation surplus warm air will rise, and a net radiation deficit will

make the air cool an fall. Air gets heated at the equator because of the

inter tropical convergence zone and rises to the poles. There the air is

cooled and it floats back down to the equator where the process is

repeated. Another major contributing factor to the circulation of the air

is due to the subtropical highs. These highs like the ITCZ migrate during

The idealized belt model is a great representation of the general

circulation of the atmosphere. The equatorial belt of variable

calms ranges from 5 degrees north to 5 degrees south. This wind belt is

There is a net radiation deficit annually in the latitudes from 38 to 90

convergence. This convergence generates the production of wind. The

anticyclones are characterized by high pressure because they have

The westerlies are in the Ferrell cell. Cold air from the polar regions

hemisphere. The reason that this happens is because of the rotation of

Some common words found in the essay are:
Cells Hadley, Atmospheric Circulation, degrees north, north south, low pressure, degrees north south, net radiation, degrees south, degrees north 5, net radiation deficit, inter tropical convergence, surpluses deficits, seasons earth, 5 30 degrees, trade winds, thermal equilibrium, southern hemisphere,
Approximate Word count = 814
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)