Atmospheric circulation | Global patterns, Jet Streams, Air Masses

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They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/atmospheric-circulation/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn btn-sm border-2 btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 module-spacing js-inline-ai-ask-button p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Key People: </dt> <dd><a href="/biography/Vilhelm-Bjerknes" topicid="67368">Vilhelm Bjerknes</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Related Topics: </dt> <dd><a href="/science/North-Atlantic-Oscillation" topicid="661549">North Atlantic Oscillation</a></dd> <dd><a href="/science/Southern-Oscillation" topicid="556824">Southern Oscillation</a></dd> <dd><a href="/science/zonal-flow" topicid="657829">zonal flow</a></dd> <dd><a href="/science/Southern-Oscillation-Index" topicid="556829">Southern Oscillation Index</a></dd> <dd><a href="/science/Pacific-North-American-mode" topicid="437697">Pacific-North American mode</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/atmospheric-circulation"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref19316"></span>atmospheric circulation</strong>, any atmospheric flow used to refer to the general <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="circulation" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/circulation" data-type="EB">circulation</a> of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Earth" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Earth</a> and regional movements of air around areas of high and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/cyclone-meteorology" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">low pressure</a>. On average, this circulation corresponds to large-scale <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/wind" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">wind</a> systems arranged in several east鈥搘est belts that encircle the Earth. In the subtropical high-pressure belts near latitudes 30掳 N and 30掳 S (the horse latitudes), air descends and causes the <span id="ref19317"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/trade-wind" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">trade winds</a> to blow westward and equatorward at the Earth鈥檚 surface. These merge and rise in the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/intertropical-convergence-zone" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">intertropical convergence zone</a> near the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Equator" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Equator</a> and blow eastward and poleward at altitudes of 2 to 17 km (1 to 11 miles). Part of the flow descends in the subtropical high-pressure belts, and the remainder merges at high altitudes with the midlatitude westerly winds farther poleward.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="descending" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/descending" data-type="EB">descending</a> air in the subtropical high-pressure belts diverges near the surface; the air that does not flow equatorward tends to flow eastward and poleward as the midlatitude <span id="ref19320"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/westerlies" class="md-crosslink ">westerlies</a>. The westerly flow is most evident between 5 and 12 km (3 and 7 miles) or so above the Earth鈥檚 surface and contains the jet streams. Jet streams are relatively narrow corridors of particularly strong winds, which correspond to the location of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/polar-front" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">polar front</a> and other areas of strong temperature contrast. Polar-front jet streams are permanent fixtures in both hemispheres, while subtropical jet streams occur only during the winter periods in each hemisphere. Poleward of 60掳 N and 60掳 S, the winds generally blow westward and equatorward as the polar <span id="ref19321"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/polar-easterlies" class="md-crosslink ">easterlies</a>. In the northern polar regions, where water and land are interspersed, the polar easterlies give way in summer to variable winds.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The zonal wind belts are more uniform and constant in the Southern Hemisphere because there is little land to disturb the circulation. In the Northern Hemisphere, a number of large, semipermanent high- and low-pressure centres exist over the continents and oceans during various parts of the year; their winds prevent the zonal wind belts from extending as uniformly around the world.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/facts-you-should-know-weather-quiz" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/37/190637-131-44E2DB89/Lightning-farm-field-energy-tree-Weather-electricity.jpg" alt="Lightning over a farm field. Weather electricity thunderstorm light energy tree" class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">Facts You Should Know: Weather Quiz</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="md-signature font-12">This article was most recently revised and updated by <a href="/editor/John-P-Rafferty/6747">John P. 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