What is the movement of air driven by Earth's rotation and temperature changes called?

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The movement of air driven by Earth's rotation and temperature changes is most accurately described as atmospheric circulation. Atmospheric circulation refers to the large-scale movement of air through the atmosphere, which is influenced by factors such as the uneven heating of the Earth's surface due to solar radiation and the Coriolis effect caused by Earth's rotation. This circulation establishes wind patterns and climatic zones.

While wind is the localized movement of air that can result from atmospheric circulation, it does not fully encompass the global and regional wind patterns created by the Earth's rotation and varying temperatures. Wind is a more specific term that often refers to the horizontal motion of air in the atmosphere, but it is the overarching atmospheric circulation that includes both wind and the intricate dynamics of air movement across the planet. This distinction is crucial for understanding how different weather systems and climates develop worldwide.

Other options like humidity and precipitation relate to moisture in the atmosphere and its forms, but they do not describe the processes governing air movement itself.

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