What are the 3 Types of Atmospheric Circulation Cells?
By BYJU'S Exam Prep
Updated on: November 9th, 2023
The Hadley cell, Ferrel cell, and Polar cell are the 3 types of atmospheric circulation cells. Between the Tropics and the Equator, there is a Hadley cell. Between 60 and 70 degrees north and south of the poles, a Polar cell can be found. Between 30 and 60 degrees north and south, Ferrel cells can be found.
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Three Cell Model of Atmospheric Circulation
There are three major atmospheric circulation cells on Earth as a result of the Coriolis Effect. The Earth’s rotation causes air to curve to the west as it travels toward the equator. As a result, the air warms rises, and moves away from the equator as it moves slowly toward it. The three atmospheric circulation cells have been explained below in detail.
Hadley’s cell
The Hadley cell is the first one. The sun heats the ground quite quickly at the equator. As a result, air rises, forming a low-pressure area on the Earth’s surface. The air cools as it ascends, creating the storm clouds known as cumulonimbus. When the air reaches the upper atmosphere, the following takes place:
- As the air divides, it flows in opposite directions toward the poles.
- The subtropical high-pressure zone is created as the air cools and dips toward the earth at around 30° north and south.
- The air warms and dries out as it sinks.
- Deserts can thus be found in areas with limited cloud cover and little precipitation.
- Then, the Hadley cell is finished.
- As the trade winds, the air completes the cycle and moves back towards the equator.
- Northeast trade winds are winds that blow to the right and are present in the northern hemisphere.
- The Southeast trade winds are the winds that blow to the left in the southern hemisphere.
- The Coriolis force and friction are to blame for this.
Ferrel’s cell
Higher latitudes (between 30 and 60 degrees N and 30 and 60 degrees S) are where the Ferrel cell occurs. The warm south-westerly winds in the northern hemisphere and north-westerly winds in the southern hemisphere are formed by air on the surface drawn towards the poles.
- The air completes the cycle and flows back towards the equator as the trade winds.
- Trade winds from the northeast are present in the northern hemisphere and blow to the right.
- The winds that blow to the left in the southern hemisphere are the southeast trade winds.
- Friction and the Coriolis force are responsible for this phenomenon.
- The Ferrel cell occurs at higher latitudes (between 30 and 60 degrees N and 30 and 60 degrees S)
- Air on the surface is drawn towards the poles, creating warm south-westerly winds in the northern hemisphere and north-westerly winds in the southern hemisphere.
Polar cell
When air cools at the poles and sinks toward the earth, it builds up pressure and forms the Polar high. After that, it heads toward lower latitudes.
- The subpolar low is a region of low pressure that develops when tropical air interacts with cold polar air at a latitude of 60 degrees north and south.
- The boundary between warm and cold air is referred to as the polar front, which explains why the weather is unpredictable at these latitudes.
Summary:
What are the 3 Types of Atmospheric Circulation Cells?
The three different kinds of atmospheric circulation cells are the Hadley cell, Ferrel cell, and Polar cell. The Coriolis effect has resulted in three main atmospheric circulation cells on Earth. The rotation of the Earth results in the curve of air towards the west while moving towards the equator.
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