Power That Drives Circulation of the Atmosphere and Oceans

Flows in Earth’s atmosphere and ocean are powered by the sun and the largest flow patterns are directly imposed. Earths atmospheric circulation is modified by instabilities that produce giant eddies that lead to large winds and weather at mid-latitudes. The result is three cells of vertical circulation in each hemisphere. Ocean flows near the surface are directly driven by heating and wind stress but the flows are modified by instabilities that produce large eddies. The vertical pattern of ocean circulation is modified by turbulent mixing.