Construct a simple diagram of Earth's general circulation; begin by labelling the four principal pressure belts or zones, and then add arrows between these pressure systems to denote the three principal wind systems.

Understanding the atmospheric pressure belts is essential to grasp the larger picture of Earth's atmospheric circulation. These belts are caused by the way the sun heats the Earth's surface unevenly, due to its spherical shape and tilt on its axis, leading to variations in temperature and pressure around the globe. Let's explore the key pressure zones:

The Equatorial Low, also known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), is characterized by warm rising air that tends to be moist and leads to frequent rainstorms. This zone is situated roughly around the equator.
The Subtropical Highs, found around 30 degrees latitude in both hemispheres, are regions of high pressure where the air is warm but starts to cool and descend, leading to arid conditions and little rainfall.
The Subpolar Lows, at about 60 degrees latitude, are areas where cooler temperatures cause air to rise again, forming a belt of low pressure that is known for more temperate and wet climates.
The Polar Highs, positioned at the poles, are zones of high pressure where very cold, dense air sinks, typically resulting in dry and cold conditions.

These belts don't exist as perfect, unbroken rings around the planet. They shift north and south with the seasons and can be disrupted by local weather patterns. Improve your understanding by visualizing these pressure systems as if they are 'conveyor belts' in the sky, moving vast volumes of air in distinctive patterns that affect the weather and climate across the globe.

Off the pressure belts we just explored flow the principal wind systems of our planet, and they follow a general pattern dictated by the pressure differences and the Coriolis effect. The three main wind systems are the Polar Easterlies, the Westerlies, and the Trade Winds.

The Polar Easterlies blow from the Polar Highs towards the lower pressure Subpolar Lows. These winds are cold and can be quite dry as they originate in the polar regions.
The Westerlies are responsible for much of the weather in the mid-latitudes. These winds move from the Subtropical Highs to the Subpolar Lows and generally bring moist air and precipitation to these regions.
The Trade Winds are found between the Subtropical Highs and the Equatorial Lows. They are named for their reliability which greatly aided historical sailing ships in oceanic navigation. In the Northern Hemisphere, they blow from the northeast, and in the Southern Hemisphere, they blow from the southeast.

Remember, it's the interaction of these wind systems with the Earth's geophysical features - such as continents and oceans - that leads to the complex weather patterns we experience. When visualizing these wind systems, imagine them as vast ribbons of air flow that envelop the Earth, connecting ecosystems and influencing climates around the globe.

The Coriolis effect is a crucial concept to understand when studying wind systems. It's a force that arises due to the Earth's rotation, causing the path of freely moving objects like air to curve.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Coriolis effect causes moving air to deflect to the right of its direction of motion. Conversely, in the Southern Hemisphere, it deflects to the left. This is not due to a real force but is an apparent force that results from the Earth rotating beneath the moving air.

The Coriolis effect has a significant impact on the direction of wind flow around the high and low pressure systems, shaping the principal wind systems we previously discussed. Without this effect, winds would simply blow in straight paths from high to low-pressure areas. However, the Coriolis force bends the paths of these winds, creating the distinct wind patterns observed across the globe.

Keep in mind that the Coriolis effect becomes stronger the further away you get from the equator, which means that its influence on wind direction is more pronounced at higher latitudes. When trying to wrap your head around this invisible force, visualize the Earth as a rotating platform, with the winds being like balls rolling across its surface, their straight paths curving due to the platform's spin.