Learning Objectives
- Understand the causes of atmospheric pressure differences and their role in atmospheric circulation and weather disturbances, including tropical storms.
- Examine vertical and horizontal variations in atmospheric pressure and their influence on wind direction and velocity.
- Analyze the effects of pressure gradient force, frictional force, and Coriolis force on wind velocity and direction, including the formation of geostrophic winds and cyclonic circulations.
- Describe the global wind patterns driven by latitudinal heating variations, pressure belts, and Earth's rotation, including Hadley, Ferrel, and Polar cells.
- Explore the formation and classification of air masses and the dynamics of fronts, including cold, warm, stationary, and occluded fronts.
- Differentiate between extra tropical and tropical cyclones, their formation, structure, and impact, including the role of fronts and the Coriolis effect.
- Explain local wind phenomena such as land and sea breezes, mountain and valley winds, and their impact on regional climates.
- Discuss the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon, its causes, and its significant impact on global weather patterns and climate variability.