Atmospheric circulation: Quick Facts

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Diagram comparing global atmospheric circulation patterns on an idealized Earth and the actual Earth, showing wind belts such as westerlies, trade winds, and major zones like the subtropical high, polar high, and intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), with labeled circulation cells and latitudinal lines.

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Topics

Pacific-North American mode zonal flow North Atlantic Oscillation Southern Oscillation Southern Oscillation Index Atmosphere Wind Gradient wind Cyclostrophic wind Windstorm surge Jet stream Wind chill Breeze microburst Buys Ballot’s law fetch

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