The earth's atmosphere is not heated uniformly.
These inequalities in heating, produce differences in pressure which generate winds: horizontal movements of air and heat (advection) and vertical movements of air (convection).
80% of heat transfer from ITCZ is done by winds, remaining 20% by ocean currents. There is also an important role played by major tropical storms such as hurricanes, which originate over warm waters and then move away from these source regions, eventually running out of energy.
Heat is received in the form of insolation (from INcoming SOLar radiATION)
Solar energy cascade needs to be understood, although the actual numbers of the original 100 units are not essential.
This is mainly Short wave radiation as the wavelength is inversely proportional to the heat of the radiating body (and the sun is hot..)
The heat is greater in equatorial areas, which means that air rises above the equator producing low pressure. Winds come into the area to try to keep the pressure as equal as possible, which means that this area is referred to as the ICTZ: Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone.
Air moves N and S from here, eventually falling again at around 30 degrees N and S, just outside the tropics.
There is a distinction to be made between latent heat and sensible heat.
Latent heat is used when evaporation occurs, and released when condensation occurs. Sensible heat transfer is the transfer of heat by radiation, convection or conduction.
Need to know the development of uni-cellular and tri-cellular models.
Halley cell: assumed there was no rotation - effect of coriolis effect/force.
Creates balance in the distribution of heat on the earth's surface. Creates the 'trade' winds.
Question:
What are the consequences of unequal surface heating on the troposphere above ?