Vocabulary

The ocean and atmosphere currents are closely linked. Image courtesy of JMVerco/Flickr. 


Antarctic Circle: located at 66.5 ºS latitude

Arctic Circle: located at 66.5 ºN latitude

Coriolis Effect:  occurs due to Earth's rotation; causes objects to move in a curved path rather than a straight line

Intertropical Convergence Zone:  located where the northern and southern trade winds meet at the equator; characterized by stormy weather

North Pole: located at 90 ºN latitude

Polar Easterlies: global wind system located near the poles, starting at 60º N and S latitudes and extending Leeward

Prevailing Westerlies: global wind systems located in the northern and southern hemispheres in a zone between 30-60º N and S latitude

Revolution: amount of time it takes Earth to complete one trip around the sun; 365 days

Rotation: amount of time it takes Earth to complete one spin on its axis; 24 hours

South Pole: located at 90 ºS latitude

Subpolar Low: zone of low pressure located between the polar easterlies and prevailing westerlies

Subtropical High: high pressure zone associated with the trade winds

Trade Winds: global wind system located between 30ºN and 30ºS latitude




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Last modified: Friday, 24 March 2017, 10:59 AM