Global Atmospheric Circulation Worksheet Jun 2026

The sun does not heat the Earth evenly. Because the Earth is a sphere, the sun’s rays hit the directly, concentrating heat in a small area. At the

This temperature difference creates a pressure gradient. Warm air at the equator becomes less dense and rises, creating low pressure. Cold air at the poles is dense and sinks, creating high pressure. If the Earth didn't rotate, we would have one giant loop of air moving from the equator to the poles and back. However, because our planet spins, this flow is broken into three distinct cells in each hemisphere. The Three-Cell Model global atmospheric circulation worksheet

Understanding Global Atmospheric Circulation: Patterns, Cells, and Winds The sun does not heat the Earth evenly