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Where the Ferrel and Polar cells meet, leading to stormy weather and precipitation. Polar Highs (90°): Areas of high pressure with very dry, cold air. 5. Summary Table for Quick Reference Typical Weather Hot, Humid, Rain Trade Winds 5°–30° Steady winds toward equator Horse Latitudes Dry, Sunny, Calm Westerlies 30°–60° Winds moving toward poles Polar Front Stormy, Variable Cold, Dry, "Polar Desert" Test Your Knowledge (Review Questions) Why does air rise at the equator and sink at the poles? How does the Coriolis Effect change the direction of winds in the Northern Hemisphere?
Global atmospheric circulation is a complex but organized system that regulates Earth’s temperature. By shifting heat and moisture through the Hadley, Ferrel, and Polar cells, the atmosphere prevents the tropics from becoming overheated and the poles from becoming frozen solid, maintaining the equilibrium necessary for life.
The Hadley Cell (0° to 30°)This is the most prominent cell. Warm air rises at the equator (the Intertropical Convergence Zone or ITCZ), moves toward the poles in the upper atmosphere, cools, and sinks at around 30° latitude. This sinking air creates high-pressure belts, which is why most of the world’s great deserts are found at this latitude.
Where air sinks, resulting in clear skies and very little rain. Subpolar Lows (60°):