All books

Professional

Apps About Coach Log in Start reading

Earth and Space Sciences · Glossary

What is Convection cell?

Definition 24.1 Primary & Middle School Earth and Space Sciences · Chapter 24 — Winds and the Global Circulation

A convection cell in the atmosphere is a loop of moving air: air warmed from below rises, spreads out at height, cools and sinks somewhere else, and flows back along the ground to where it rose. Under the rising air the pressure is low; under the sinking air it is high.

The sea breeze and the land breeze: two small convection cells that turn opposite ways. Red arrows: rising warm air; H and L: high and low pressure at the ground. By day the loop reaches 1000 to 1500\, m up.
The sea breeze and the land breeze: two small convection cells that turn opposite ways. Red arrows: rising warm air; H and L: high and low pressure at the ground. By day the loop reaches 1000 to 1500 m1500\,\mathrm{m} up.
Read in context →