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Rising warm air is said to carry moisture which then cools and condenses to form rain clouds, resulting in more precipitation. In which areas would you expect more precipitation: Between the two Hadley cells at the equator, or between Hadley and Ferrell cells at approximately 30 degrees latitude?

User Ivan G
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Final answer:

More precipitation is expected at the equator between two Hadley cells due to rising, cooling, and condensing air, whereas around 30 degrees latitude, descending warm air leads to drier conditions creating deserts.

Step-by-step explanation:

You can expect more precipitation between the two Hadley cells at the equator than between the Hadley and Ferrell cells at approximately 30 degrees latitude. The equatorial region experiences intense sunlight which heats the air, causing it to rise. As this air ascends, it cools and cannot hold as much water vapor, leading to the condensation and frequent rainfall in this region. In contrast, at around 30 degrees latitude, the descending air from the Hadley cell moves towards the surface creating warmer, drier conditions, thus increasing its capacity to hold water vapor and leading to arid climates where some of the world's largest deserts are located.

Other factors such as proximity to oceans and mountain ranges also affect the amount of precipitation an area receives. Mountains can cause the rising moist air to cool and condense on the windward side, leading to high precipitation in these areas, while creating rain shadows on the leeward side where precipitation is significantly reduced.

Overall, the global pattern of precipitation is largely determined by the Earth's wind and water vapor distribution, influenced by temperature, geography, and the movement of air masses.

User Lam Phan
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