Rain Shadow and Greenhouse Effect Unit 3: Meteorology Part 2

Kohala Mountain, Hawaii Why is one side of the mountain dry and barren, while the other side is full of vegetation?

Cascade Mountain Ranges

Let’s Review…. As warm air rises, it COOLS. Cool air has a LOWER capacity which means the air can hold LESS water Water condenses and turns into clouds Precipitation occurs As cool air sinks, it WARMS Warm air has a HIGHER capacity which means the air can hold MORE water Water evaporates from the land and causes clouds to disappear Dry, desert-like conditions

The Rain Shadow WINDWARD SIDE LEEWARD SIDE PREVAILING WESTERLIES 5. As air travels over the mountain, it begins to sink. 4. PRECIPITATION! Rain, snow, or hail 1. Water Evaporates = cool, wet air 6. Water evaporates causing dry environments 3. As the air rises, it expands & cools more. Water condenses and clouds form. PREVAILING WESTERLIES 2. Air is FORCED upward by the mountain range PACIFIC OCEAN OREGON CASCADE MOUNTAINS IDAHO

Living in Idaho, we experience the Rain Shadow Effect every day Living in Idaho, we experience the Rain Shadow Effect every day. Idaho’s weather comes in from the __________ Ocean and crosses the ______________ or coastal Mountains. As the air comes in off the ocean, it rises up the side of the mountains. As it rises, it (expands/contracts) and (warms/cools). This causes the relative humidity to (increase/decrease). When air becomes saturated (condensation/evaporation) will occur to form clouds. This occurs on the (windward/leeward) side of the mountains. Once air crosses over the top of the mountain range it flows down to east or (windward/leeward) side. As the air flows down, it sinks and (expands/contracts) as the air begins to warm. The relative humidity (increases/decreases) as the air warms producing very (moist/dry) weather. This makes the (windward/leeward) side of the mountain the rain shadow side. PACIFIC CASCADE

How is weather affected by human actions?

Severe weather is powered by… ENERGY Severe weather is powered by… 1. Fusion in the sun produces energy in the form of radiation 2. Earth absorbs the radiation 3. Unequal heating of the Earth. 6. Energy released into the atmosphere powers hurricanes, tornados, etc. 5. Clouds form by releasing energy from water 4. Differences in air pressure

The more energy that is absorbed by Earth’s surface, the more severe weather we get!

The Greenhouse Effect 2. Reflected Radiation Energy that is reflected by the Earth’s surface is REABSORBED by greenhouse gases The Greenhouse Effect Absorbed Radiation Earth absorbs radiation from the sun 3. Greenhouse Gases Greenhouse gases emit the radiation back to the Earth.

Greenhouse Gases result in Global Warming 1. Carbon Dioxide Burning of coal, oil, fossil fuels, etc… Deforestation (clearing of forests); Less trees/plants that are able to remove CO2 from the atmosphere Volcanoes, fires, and respiration (breathing) 2. Methane Garbage buried in landfills Animal waste 3. Water vapor due to increased evaporation 4. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) Refrigerants and aerosols

So What? Polar ice caps are melting Increases in strong storms Rise in sea level Increases in strong storms Hurricanes get strength from warm ocean water