What Is Hadley Cell?
A giant loop of air in the tropics. Air rises near the equator, flows toward the poles high up, sinks near 30 degrees latitude, and returns along the ground as the trade winds. In technical terms: The thermally direct mean meridional circulation between the equator and about 30 degrees latitude, with ascent in the ITCZ, poleward outflow near the tropopause, subsidence in the subtropical highs, and low-level equatorward trade winds.
Hadley Cell In Plain English
A giant loop of air in the tropics. Air rises near the equator, flows toward the poles high up, sinks near 30 degrees latitude, and returns along the ground as the trade winds.
The Technical Definition
The thermally direct mean meridional circulation between the equator and about 30 degrees latitude, with ascent in the ITCZ, poleward outflow near the tropopause, subsidence in the subtropical highs, and low-level equatorward trade winds; it maintains the subtropical jet and desert belts.
Lessons That Use Hadley Cell
- The Greenhouse Effect And Uneven Heating Unit 2: Energy And The Sun
- The Jet Stream And The Global Circulation Unit 3: Wind And Pressure Systems
