Hobbies And Interests
Solar Radiation
The sun is responsible for the change in temperature of much of the earth's atmosphere. Photons heat up the surface of the earth which then heats the adjacent air, causing it to expand and rise. Warmer air molecules have more space in between them, making them less dense than cooler air molecules and forcing them upwards. This solar heating is not always uniform, and a thermal column can be formed as a result.
Convection Currents
Since the sun shines more strongly on the equatorial region of the planet than in the polar regions, there is a major temperature gradient between the equator and the poles. As the sun heats this air, it moves toward the north and south poles, where it displaces the cooler air. This warm air is cooled, and the displaced cold air is heated, and the cycle continues. This type of air movement is called a convection current, and it is fueled by sunlight.
Pressure
Wind is another form of air movement. It is caused by differences in pressure between two pockets of air. When there is a drastic difference in air pressure over a short distance, the wind will be very strong. The air flows from the higher pressure air mass to the lower pressure mass, the same as air moves from an inflated balloon to the surrounding atmosphere when it is popped. As air is heated, its temperature will drop, drawing more air towards it.
Coriolis Effect
The earth's rotation affects the flow of air in a phenomenon called the Coriolis Effect. This pushes air to the right, which causes air to spin clockwise around high pressure air masses and counterclockwise around low pressure air masses in the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere, the opposite effect occurs. This is the same effect that causes water to drain in opposite directions in the northern and southern hemispheres.