Source: "Atmosphere, Ocean, and Climate Dynamics: An Introductory Text" by John Marshall & Alan Plumb (2007).
Due to differential heating and conservation of energy, as well as the Earth’s rotation and conservation of momentum, there is a general trend of energy and momentum transportation from the equator to the poles. The transport of heat from the equator to the poles is not done through just one large circulation from the equator the poles, but rather a couple smaller circulations limited in size by the effects of the rotation of the Earth. More specifically, due to the rotation of the Earth, the general circulation in the atmosphere breaks down into two main regimes:
1) The Hadley Cell transporting heat from the equator to midlatitudes
2) Eddies transporting heat from the midlatitudes to the poles
In this study, through the use of rotating tank experiments and analysis of atmospheric data, we examined the dynamics and energy transport involved in both the Hadley Cell and midlatitude eddies to study the general circulation of the atmosphere. To read more about what we did, click the links above!
