http://www

http://www.srh.weather.gov/srh/jetstream/global/jet.htm

Principles of climate circulation:

great heating at the subsolar latitude, decreasing toward poles (with increasing speed at high latitudes)
warm air rises (convection) then travels poleward until it cools and sinks
low pressure at the surface occurs where air rises, high pressure at the surface occurs where air sinks (or subsides)
rising air cools (with reduced pressure), moisture condenses, and it rains; sinking air warms, moisture evaporates, and it doesn’t rain
the ITCZ is the subsolar zone (plus or minus 10-15 degrees lat), characterized by frequent rain and thunderstorms
because land masses heat and cool rapidly, and water doesn’t, the rising and sinking isn’t uniform, but happens in cells
Rising air continues to move at the speed of the surface where it rose; since the equator travels faster than the poles, polward-moving air ends up farther east than it started. Equatorward-moving air ends up west of where it started. Ultimately this implies that air bends rightward in the N and leftward in the S. Even air moving up and down “bends” right, so that in HP and LP areas, winds tend to follow patterns below

http://geography.uoregon.edu/weather/#UpperAir&SurfaceWinds

100 mb winds

http://www.bbc.co.uk/beasts/changing/holocene/currents.shtml

http://www.srh.weather.gov/srh/jetstream/global/climate.htm

Climate

The global patterns that occur based upon the earth's tilt, rotation and land/sea distribution are factors responsible for our climates. Climates are the general weather conditions usually found in a particular place. While the weather varies from day-to-day at any particular location, over the years, the same type of weather will reoccur. This recurring weather pattern for each location is known as the climate for that location.

German climatologist and amateur botanist Wladimir Köppen (1846-1940) divided the world's climates into several major categories based upon general temperature profile related to latitude.

A - tropical
B - dry (arid) climates based on relationship between temperature and evapotranspiration
C - warm temperate/cool winter
D - cool temperate/cold winter
E - polar
H - highland

These categories are as follows:

Tropical Climates (Classification A) Tropical moist climates extend north and south from the equator to about 15° to 25° latitude. In these climates all months have average temperatures greater than 64°F and annual precipitation greater than 59".	Dry Climates (Classification B) The most obvious climatic feature of this climate is that potential evaporation and transpiration exceed precipitation. These climates extend from 20°-35° North and South of the equator and in large continental regions of the mid-latitudes often surrounded by mountains.
Moist Subtropical Mid-Latitude Climates (Classification C) This climate generally has warm and humid summers with mild winters. Its extent is from 30°50° of latitude mainly on the eastern and western borders of most continents. During the winter, the main weather feature is the mid-latitude cyclone. Convective thunderstorms dominate summer months.	Moist Continental Mid-latitude Climates (Classification D) Moist continental mid-latitude climates have warm to cool summers and cold winters. The location of these climates is poleward of the C climates. The average temperature of the warmest month is greater than 50°F (10°C), while the coldest month is less than -22°F (-30°C). Winters are severe with snowstorms, strong winds, and bitter cold from Continental Polar or Arctic air masses.
Polar Climates (Classification E) Polar climates have year-round cold temperatures with the warmest month less than 50°F (10°C). Polar climates are found on the northern coastal areas of North America, Europe, Asia, and on the landmasses of Greenland and Antarctica.	Highlands (Classification H) Unique climates based on their elevation. Highland climates occur in mountainous terrain where rapid elevation changes cause rapid climatic changes over short distances.

Take it to the MAX! Learn about further sub-divisions of these climate zones.

Green currents = cold, red currents = warm; Purple lines = permanent polar pack ice