Bellwork 3/12 What is the difference between a variable component & a major component of the atmosphere? What results should you have seen in your lab? Why?

Upcoming: Today 3/12: Wrap up Greenhouse effect, begin Temperature Controls Wednesday3/14: Finish Temperature controls, begin Isotherms Friday 3/16: wrap up loose ends, review Tuesday 3/20: Atmosphere Test Thursday 3/22: Educational Weather Film (day before Spring Break)

Greenhouse Gas Data What trends do you notice?

While there can be MORE water vapor than CO2 in the atmosphere at times…water vapor is highly variable day to day (think about a very dry day vs. a very humid day). Remember, water vapor is a variable component. CO2 is a major component. Water vapor DOES warm our planet, but CO2 is a more consistent GHG.

How “Fates” of Radiation control temperature variation Today: How “Fates” of Radiation control temperature variation We already know how the greenhouse effect heats our entire planet…and yet, our planet is not the same temperature everywhere…

We’re going to look at this globally & locally…today is locally

A few concepts first…

Heat Transfer Heat ALWAYS travels from high temperature to low temperature.

On a cold January day, you run into your house after being outside shoveling for a half hour. You leave the front door open and your dad says “Hey! Close the door, you’re letting the cold in!” What is wrong with your dad’s statement?

Absorption on land surfaces: How does this affect weather and climate?? Let’s find out.

Absorption on land surfaces: Just as atmospheric gases absorb radiation, so do land surfaces. Still causes molecular motion (wiggle) and therefore a temp. Increase.

Let’s look at how the “Fates” of Radiation lead to changes in local temperature.

Temperature Controls Land & Water Heating Altitude Geographic Position Cloud Cover & Albedo

Land & Water Heating Land heats more rapidly than water Land reaches higher temperatures than water This is due to: water’s specific heat is higher land is opaque & water is transparent warm water mixes with cool water evaporation in water

Heating of Land & Water Describe the differences in temperature ranges between Land and Water.

Altitude Increase in altitude = decrease in temperature IN THE TROPOSPHERE (where OUR climate is) Remember, the Trophosphere heats from the ground up Atmosphere “thins” as you go up...harder for heat to transfer

Geographic Position—Pt 1 “Windward” coasts = wind blows from the ocean to the shore Mild winters, cool summers “Leeward” coasts = wind blows from the shore to the ocean Follows continental temperature pattern

Geographic Position—Pt. 2 Mountain ranges act as barriers to weather Can block affects of ocean currents How would temperature ranges in Charleston and Richmond be different?

Cloud Cover & Albedo Albedo = fraction of radiation reflected by a surface Clouds have HIGH albedo the reflect incoming solar radiation back to space Day temperatures are cooler with cloud cover Night temperatures are warmer with cloud cover

Temperature Control Practice Two Options: Use the printed out data and work at a lab table Data is posted in the Google Classroom…use a laptop at your desk I don’t care which option you choose. I do care that you are productive. Goal: Use the data provided to determine which “Temperature Control” is causing temperature patterns in two cities. **There might be more than one answer…be able to justify yours!**

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What can we do with these temperature variations? Map average temperature Predict future temperature changes Create maps showing temperature distribution  nationally & globally Isotherms

Isotherms: Line on a map that connects points of equal temperature Allows us to easily see temperature distribution in an area

How do we determine isotherms? 1. Isotherms are drawn in ten-degree intervals. 2. Temperatures lower than the isotherm value are always on one side of the isotherm and higher temperatures are consistently on the other side. 3. Draw an isotherm until it reaches the end of the plotted data or closes off a loop as it encircles data. 4. Neighboring isotherms tend to take similar paths. 5. Isotherms never cross and never split or fork. Let’s practice: