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Weather
Humans have tried to predict the weather for millions of years. Our ancestors monitored changes in their environment along with the behaviour of animals to help them predict the weather. Through development of our understanding, of the atmospheric patterns and the relationship to weather dynamics, today it is much easier to forecast a more accurate weather prediction. To better understand the mechanisms which control our weather and climate, we have to look at the Earth’s atmosphere. In particular, the atmospheric circulation, its processes and how these create weather patterns. It is the understandings of these processes that allow us to appreciate the balance and distribution of climate and energy. This also equips us to understand weather dynamics. (Kashuba M,20)
The earth’s atmosphere plays an essential role in the balance of heat, climate and energy (Charles H. Langmuir, 2012). By understanding the global atmospheric circulation patterns, along with historical processes, we can see how the development of these processes has altered our understanding of the weather dynamics of the mid-latitudes. This essay will discuss the development of our understanding. It will commence with the unicellular model, its relationship to the three circulation cell of Hadley, Ferrel and the polar cell. It will then move on to explain the relationship of high and low pressure the divergence and convergence process. Finally, it will link the lapse rate, with the Coriolis forces, the development of the Rossby waves and jet streams. By understanding these dynamics we can understand the weather systems and the impact on our environment. Over time there has been a number of models presented to help us unravel the complicated nature and balance of atmospheric circulation processes. These include early meteorology models by Halley (1686), Hadley (1735) Ferrel (1856) and Rossby (1941). While technology today allows us view things differently by using satellite imaging and computer



Bibliography: A.E.Gill, 1980. Some simple solutions for heat induced tropic circulation. Quart.J.R.Met.SOC, 106(1), pp. 447-462. Alan Strahler, A. S., 1996. Global Wind and Pressure Patterns. In: Physical Geography Science and Systems of the Human Environment. USA: Ruttle, Shaw, & Wetherill, Inc., pp. 131-132. Alan Strahler, A. s., 2000. Jet Streams. In: A. s. Alan Strahler, ed. Introducing Physical Geography, 2nd Edition. New York: Wiley & Son Ltd., pp. 121-122. Charles H. Langmuir, W. B., 2012. Origin of the Atmosphere. In: How to Build a Habitable Planet:. UK: Princeton, pp. 204-206. Holden, J., 2008. Rossby Waves & Jet Streams. In: J. Holden, ed. An Introduction to Physical Geography and the Environment. 2nd Edition. Harrlow England: Pearson, pp. 97-100. Kashuba, M., 2005. Newspapers, Maps and War. In: Walking with Your Ancestors. New York: Family Tree Books, pp. 170-172. Leroux, M., 2005. The General circulation of the Atmosphere. In: Global Warming Myth or Reality. UK: Springer Praxis, pp. 145-170. Metro, 2014. Niagara Falls frozen in time as Polar Vortex blankets US. [Online] Available at: http://metro.co.uk/2014/01/09/niagara-falls-frozen-in-time-as-arctic-chill-blankets-us-4255596/ Musk, L. F., 1988. Atmospheric Motion. In: Weather Systems. UK: Cambridge Press, pp. 24-25. Musk, L. F., 1998. Jet Streams. In: Weather Systems. UK: Cambridge, pp. 110-111.

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