Merima Alagic
AC1208413
SC260.1.1 Introduction to Ecology
Assignment 1
May 15,2013

Atmospheric circulation is described as a large scale movement of air, which means that thermal energy is distributed into the earth. Advancing toward the pole the air begins about 30 degrees north and also the south latitudes. Most of the global patterns of atmospheric heating and circulation comes from a shift in heating of the surfaces and the precipitation. The atmosphere shifts cold air from high latitudes, into the direction of low latitudes. Then the warm air from low latitudes into high latitudes, this causes the air to rise above the surfaces and it rises to the top. This causes the air to rise forming clouds and the clouds form a heavy rainfall. Atmospheric forces cause the air to move causing different pressures. If you look on a weather map these differences are parallel lines called isobars, these lines show the changes in pressure. Because of this the winds are not steady, the surface of the earth is not smooth, there is uneven heating due to land and water contrasts, and the wind flow can become unstable.

What mechanisms produce the most precipitation in the tropics? That comes from rain, snow, and sleet all of these result in high precipitation. This occurs when water vapor of condensation in the atmosphere is pulled down by gravity and is put on earth's surface. It happens when the atmosphere gets too full of water, this causes trade winds causing air to rise. As the air cools, clouds and rain develop. They form Hadley cells which are a tropical atmospheric circulation that can be defined by the average over longitude. These bands of clouds and rain rise towards the equator creating tropical conditions.

Solar heating of the plant due to the rotation and the sun produce most of the precipitation at temperatures latitudes. The sun's rays hit the equator at the angle of 23 degrees the closet point depends on the exact time of year. The closer a place is to the poles the smaller the angle which means, the radiation will be less. This causes trade winds when these trade winds meet near the equator causing the air to rise, as it rises it Crates clouds and rain.

The temperature in the air cause low perceptions in the tropics. The more the temperature rises the more moisture it can hold and the lower the temperature the less moisture it can hold. Because the tropics are warmer it can hold more moisture and it wont lose the moisture, unless it comes into contact with colder air, Which usually comes from the mountains.

The reason that the tropical forest and biomes get so much rain is because, there are shifts in the latitude where the sun is overhead. It causes the processes of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation of water. It shifts the sun and the earth orbits the sun and the earth,the sun generates a solar equator causing tropical storms. The wet seasons come during the warmer time of the year,when the sun is overhead.