advection
Fluid carries heat
Advection is the horizontal movement of air, water, heat, or other properties by the flow of a fluid.
In meteorology, advection describes how wind carries temperature or moisture from one region to another: Warm air advection from the Gulf brought humidity northward.
The term distinguishes horizontal transport from convection, which moves things vertically.
Unbroken forward movement
- streamlinesMakes more efficient
- laminar flowSmooth, parallel fluid motion
- turbulenceChaotic flow patterns
- vortexRotating fluid column
buoyancy · steady flow · flux · downstream · upstream
Circular or spiral motion
- eddyCircular counter-current
- ocean currentsLarge-scale seawater movement
- upwellingDeep water rising surfaceward
- downwellingFluid sinking from surface
Zones where air masses meet
- cycloneRotating low-pressure storm system
- anticycloneHigh-pressure weather system
- pressure systemsZones of atmospheric force variation
- geostrophic windPressure-Coriolis equilibrium airflow
troposphere · convergence · divergence · jetstream · synoptic · barometric · warm front · cold front
Movement of thermal energy
- coolingLosing thermal energy
- warmingIncreasing in temperature
- temperature changeAlteration in heat level
Pollution level measurement
- environmental monitoringObserving natural systems systematically
flow
Unbroken forward movement
- streamlinesMakes more efficient
- laminar flowSmooth, parallel fluid motion
- turbulenceChaotic flow patterns
vortex · buoyancy · steady flow · flux · downstream · upstream
gyre
Circular or spiral motion
- eddyCircular counter-current
- ocean currentsLarge-scale seawater movement
- upwellingDeep water rising surfaceward
weather fronts
Zones where air masses meet
- cycloneRotating low-pressure storm system
- anticycloneHigh-pressure weather system
- pressure systemsZones of atmospheric force variation
geostrophic wind · troposphere · convergence · divergence · jetstream · synoptic · barometric · warm front · cold front · isobar
heat transfer
Movement of thermal energy
- coolingLosing thermal energy
- warmingIncreasing in temperature
- temperature changeAlteration in heat level
air quality
Pollution level measurement
- environmental monitoringObserving natural systems systematically
advectiondiffusion
Passive molecular spreading
conduction · thermal conduction · osmosis · dispersion · random walk