Atmospheric Circulation

Atmospheric and Ocean Circulation
Important Terms and Concepts

Air pressure
Average sea-level pressure
High pressure
Low pressure
Wind
Pressure gradient
Coriolis effect
Friction
Cyclone
Anticyclone
Convergence
Divergence
Intertropical convergence zone
Subtropical high pressure
Subpolar low pressure
Polar high

Northeast tradewinds
Westerlies
Polar easterlies
Monsoon
Land/Sea breeze
Chinook
Mountain/Valley wind
Santa Ana wind
Upper-level westerlies
Upper-level easterlies
Jet Stream
Circumpolar vortex
Meridonal flow
Zonal Flow
Warm ocean current
Cold ocean current
El Niño
La Niña