What Is The Process Of Atmospheric Circulation?

The rays of the sun enter the earth in large amounts. These rays either reflect into space or get absorbed. However, most of these rays get absorbed by the earth’s surface and oceans, resulting in the earth’s rising temperature. Due to this absorption, the air surrounding the earth’s surface gets heated, which makes the atmospheric conditions at the surface level hotter. When the air becomes hot, it starts moving upward, and the cold air starts moving downward. This results in the general circulation known as atmospheric circulation. 

Atmospheric circulation 

Atmospheric circulation can be described as the Integration of current air movement and the movement of ocean currents. This Integration and combination of these movements result in thermal energy production. The atmospheric circulation is different at different places on earth. But still, cumulatively, it remains unchanged and constant on the whole earth for hundreds of years. 

Factors that influence atmospheric circulation 

Various factors affect the general circulation of the atmosphere. These are: 

Heating of the earth’s surface 

The heating of the earth’s surface is the foremost factor of atmospheric circulation. Sun rays are the major reason behind the heating of the earth. When the earth’s surface gets heated, the air near its surface also gets heated. It also warms the air. Although, the density of warm air is less than that of cold air. Due to this, the warm air starts moving upward, and the cold air starts replacing it. It results in the formation of an atmospheric cycle. 

Temperature and Precipitation 

The atmospheric circulation of any place directly depends on the temperature of that area. If the temperature is high, then the circulation of hot and cold air is also very high, and if it is low, then the circulation is also very less. However, it also depends on precipitation. If the precipitation is high, the water molecules present in the air also increase. Air having large amounts of water molecules also has a higher density than cold air. So, this difference in the density again results in atmospheric circulation. 

Solar radiations

The whole atmospheric circulation on earth depends upon the amount of solar radiation. The solar radiation heats the earth’s surface and facilitates the phenomenon of evaporation.

Thermal energy on earth 

The earth’s thermal energy is also one of the factors of atmospheric circulation. The more thermal energy heats, the more air, significantly increasing atmospheric circulation. If the thermal energy is low, it results in less atmospheric circulation. 

Types of atmospheric circulation 

Let’s understand the different types of atmospheric circulation. 

General circulation of the atmosphere or atmospheric pressure is subdivided into two parts. These are:

• Longitudinal Atmospheric Circulation
• Latitudinal Atmospheric Circulation

Latitudinal Atmospheric Circulation

The air on the earth’s surface gets heated due to solar radiation. The movement of hot air from the surface to up and cold air from up to the surface forms an atmospheric engine. When this engine continuously works, it produces thermal energy absorbed by the earth. The earth’s tropics also absorb this energy and transfer it to the latitudes. It is observed that these latitudes vary in terms of heating. Due to this, the air starts circulating from hot areas to cold areas. Near the equator, the air gets heated, which starts flowing towards the tropic of cancer and the tropic of Capricorn. And in this way, the Latitudinal Atmospheric Circulation takes place.

Longitudinal Atmospheric Circulation

The Latitudinal Atmospheric Circulation mainly influences the atmospheric circulation of the earth. But, Longitudinal Atmospheric Circulation also plays a major role in the earth’s atmospheric circulation. The Longitudinal Atmospheric Circulation results from the difference between the temperature of oceans and the surface. Due to the high radiation of the sun, the water of the oceans gets heated, but the surface remains cold, which results in the circulation of hot and cold air. 

Importance of atmospheric circulation 

• Facilitate adequate distribution of thermal energy. 
• Upper atmospheric circulation maintains the temperature of the earth. 
• Atmospheric circulation is the major factor in the rain. It means it also plays a major role in precipitation on earth. 
• It helps determine the climatic conditions of any place. 
• Atmospheric circulation is also one of the factors of weather change. 
• It facilitates the formation of clouds.
  

Conclusion 

Atmospheric circulation or upper atmospheric circulation plays a major role in describing the physical conditions of any place. It is also important to maintain the balance of radiation on the earth. However, Longitudinal Atmospheric Circulation is the main circulation that affects all the earth’s regions. But still, Longitudinal Atmospheric Circulation plays an important role in maintaining the earth’s water cycle. Although, the general circulation of the atmosphere also affects the earth’s climatic conditions. The uneven distribution of solar radiation and the earth’s rotation is the major reason behind the atmospheric circulation.