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Article: Atmospheric Circulation
- Article from:
- World of Earth Science
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Atmospheric circulation
The
troposphere
, the lowest 9 mi (15 km) of Earth's atmosphere, is the layer in which nearly all
weather
activity takes place. Weather is the result of complex air circulation patterns that can best be described by going from the general to more localized phenomena.
The prime mover of air above Earth's surface is the unequal heating and cooling of Earth by the
Sun
. Air rises as it is heated and descends as it is cooled. The differences in air pressure cause air to circulate, which results in the creation of
wind
,
precipitation
, and other weather related features.
Earth's
rotation
also plays a role in air circulation. Centrifugal force, friction and ...