drivers of GAC

• drivers

  1. Excess incoming solar radiation over the tropics (surplus heat)

  • Solar radiation from the sun is the main source of energy on Earth and drives many of the processes in the physical environment 
  • The tropics receive the most amount of solar radiation. It is this excess of incoming solar radiation over the tropics, compared with polar regions, which drives the GAC
  • The atmospheric circulation redistributes the surplus heat at the tropics towards the polar regions where there is a deficit