Edexcel B GCSE Geography > Hazardous Earth > What are the natural causes of climate change?
Insolation drives the global atmospheric circulation system by heating the Earth unevenly, with stronger heating at the equator and weaker at the poles.
The Earth’s global atmospheric circulation is divided into three cells: the Hadley Cell, Ferrel Cell, and Polar Cell, which redistributes heat around the planet.
Hadley Cell: Warm air rises near the equator, moves poleward, then cools and sinks around 30° latitude, creating arid, high-pressure zones.
Ferrel Cell: Air flows from high-pressure zones toward low-pressure areas at 60° latitude, transferring heat between the Hadley and Polar cells.
Polar Cell: Cold air sinks at the poles and moves toward 60° latitude, rising again and forming low-pressure zones.
Ocean currents complement atmospheric circulation by transferring warm water from the tropics to higher latitudes and cold water towards the equator.
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