Difference Between Latitudinal Atmospheric Circulation and Longitudinal Atmospheric Circulation
Here are the major difference between Latitudinal Atmospheric Circulation and Longitudinal Atmospheric Circulation as mentioned below.
| Aspect | Latitudinal Circulation | Longitudinal Circulation |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Force | Driven by differences in sunlight on Earth’s surface. | Driven by the changes in ocean temperatures, especially in the Pacific. |
| Heating Variation | Sunlight creates temperature differences across latitudes. | Ocean heat absorption evens out temperature variations. |
| Cell Structure | Creates specific wind patterns and pressure systems. | Lacks distinct pattern. It is characterized by events like El Niño. |
| Geographical Focus | Seen globally in Earth’s atmosphere. | Mainly affects weather in specific areas, especially the Pacific region. |
| Impact on Weather | Influences seasonal changes consistently. | Leads to sudden, local weather changes, especially during El Niño. |
| Forecasting Utility | Used for long-term weather predictions. | Used for short-term predictions, especially during El Niño events. |
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General Circulation of the Atmosphere| Class 11 Geography Notes
The General Circulation of the Atmosphere is a pattern that says about the wind movements across the Earth or a certain planet. In 1735; English meteorologist George Hadley proposed his modern theory based on the trade winds. The core idea of the General Circulation of the Atmosphere is that the circulation takes place majorly in the equatorial regions where the air density is relatively low. The warm air moves towards the Earth’s poles where it becomes cold and comes back to the equator again. The process is based on different factors like Pressure belts, ITCZ migration, and rotation of the Earth. Hadley cells are the global level scales that push the warm air to high altitudes and maintain the circulation of the Atmosphere.
In this article, we are going to discuss the General Circulation of the Atmosphere in detail.