Hadley cell

English

Etymology

Named after amateur meteorologist George Hadley.

Noun

Hadley cell (plural Hadley cells)

1. (meteorology) A global-scale tropical atmospheric circulation that features air rising near the Equator, flowing poleward at a height of 10 to 15 kilometers above the earth's surface, descending in the subtropics, and then returning equatorward near the surface. This circulation creates the trade winds, tropical rain-belts and hurricanes, subtropical deserts and the jet streams.