Why does atmosphere circulate

The smallest and weakest cells are the Polar cells, which extend from between 60 and 70 degrees north and south, to the poles. Air in these cells sinks over the highest latitudes and flows out towards the lower latitudes at the surface. This explains why air moves in a certain direction around an area of low pressure, and why trade winds exist. It also gives us an idea of why we see certain weather in and around the UK.

Warm moist air from the tropics gets fed north by the surface winds of the Ferrel cell. This then meets cool dry air moving south in the Polar cell. The polar front forms where these two contrasting air mass meet, leading to ascending air and low pressure at the surface, often around the latitude of the UK.

The polar front jet stream drives this area of unstable atmosphere. The UK and many other countries in Europe often experience unsettled weather, which comes from travelling areas of low pressure which form when moist air rises along the polar front. Weather or low pressure systems bearing rain and unsettled conditions move across the Atlantic on a regular basis.

The jet stream guides these systems, so its position is important for UK weather. In summer, the normal position of the jet stream is to be to be north of the UK - dragging those weather systems away from our shores to give us relatively settled weather.

Toggle navigation JetStream. Global Circulations Air flow for no rotation and no water on a planet. Air flow for no rotation and no water on a planet. Three main circulations exist between the equator and poles due to earth's rotation. This pattern, known as convection , happens on a global scale. It also happens on a small scale within individual storms.

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