general circulation The term generally used to describe the large-scale circulation of the atmosphere over the globe, or over one hemisphere, with its more or less persistent features (which may be brought to prominence by considering long-term, or even shorter-term, averages), and all the transient features on various scales. Although in its nature it is a matter of the winds, the general circulation may be studied by means of barometric pressure maps because of the intimate relation between pressure and wind.

general circulation The term generally used to describe the large-scale circulation of the atmosphere over the globe, or over one hemisphere, with its more or less persistent features (which may be brought to prominence by considering long-term or even shorter-term averages) and all the transient features on various scales. Although in its nature it is a matter of the winds, the general circulation may be studied by means of barometric pressure maps because of the intimate relation between pressure and wind.