Why is one area of the earth’s land surface a desert, another a grassland, and another a forest?

Climate- long term weather patterns Weather- momentary conditions of the atmosphere; created by the unequal heating & cooling of the earth’s surface. I. Climate Temperature & Precipitation- major factors that determine an areas climate. Humidity- the amount of water vapor air holds, which is dependent upon temperature.

Winter solstice Dec. 22 Sun vertical at 23.5 o S Winter solstice Dec. 22 Sun vertical at 23.5 o S Autumnal equinox Sep. 23 Sun vertical at equator Summer solstice June 21 Sun vertical at 23.5 o N Vernal equinox March 21 Sun vertical at equator Northern Hemisphere Names

Earth further from sun Earth closer to sun

Solar irradiance- What are some factors that effect exposure to irradiance? The radiant energy emitted by the sun. It is highest at the equator and lowest at the poles. We are interested in conditions near the Earth’s surface

Convection cell model Non-rotating Earth

Add rotation and add landmasses unequal heating and cooling of the Earth

ITCZ intertropical convergence zone= doldrums Low pressure, wet climate High pressure, dry climate Low pressure, wet climate 30 o 60 o 90 o 0 o High pressure, dry climate

A)Idealized winds generated by pressure gradient and Coriolis Force. B)Actual wind patterns owing to land mass distribution..

ITCZ

Seasonal changes in the position of the ITCZ January

July

Winter monsoon- Dry Summer monsoon- Wet

Biome A major type of ecological community, determined largely by climate. Forest Tundra Grassland Desert TundraChaparral Tropical rainforest Temperate Evergreen Forest Temperate Deciduous Forest Polar Ice Grassland Taiga DesertMountain Zones

Hydrologic Cycle

Rain shadow effect

Coriolis Effect Objects moving in the northern hemisphere are deflected to the right (cw) Objects moving in the southern hemisphere are deflected to the left (ccw)

equator Quito Buffalo 79 o W North Pole South Pole N Quito Buffalo equator Buffalo moves 783 mph Quito moves 1036 mph 15 o

Surface currents are wind driven currents

What do Nike, rubber ducks, and hockey gloves have to do with oceanography?

Surface temperature

Boundary Currents in the Northern Hemisphere Type of Current General Features Speed Special Features Western boundary Currentswarmswift sharp boundary Gulf Stream, Kuroshionarrow w/coastal circulation, deep little coastal upwelling Eastern Boundary Currentscoldslow diffuse boundaries California, Canarybroad separating from coastal shallow currents, coastal upwelling common

Dynamics of a Tropical Cyclone Counter current circulation in Northern Hemisphere L Air moves toward zone of low pressure and veers off course to right

Eddy A circular movement of water formed along the edge of a permanent current In an average year, rings are formed km in diameter Speed 1 m/sec Warm core ring 1.Rotates clockwise 2.Found on the landward side of the current Cold core ring (cyclonic eddy) 1.Rotates counterclockwise 2.Forms on the ocean side of the current

Sargasso Sea

A.Gulf Stream meander develops B.Amplitude of the meander increases C.Meander forms a loop and begins ro pinch off D.Ring separates from Gulf Stream WARM CORE RING

Ekman Transport Water flow in the Northern hemisphere- 90 o to the right of the wind direction Depth is important

upwelling downwelling

Langmuir Circulation

Global Warming

The E-M Spectrum

Fate of Solar Radiation Reaching the Earth reflectionclouds snow and ice the earth’s surface atmospheric dust reflectionclouds snow and ice the earth’s surface atmospheric dust

Fate of Solar Radiation Reaching the Earth absorptionatmosphereoceansland plant photosynthesis absorptionatmosphereoceansland

Fate of Solar Radiation Reaching the Earth radiationradiation

The Greenhouse Effect

Human-Produced Greenhouse Gases Carbon Dioxide Methane Nitrous Oxide

Year Temperature Carbon Dioxide

Predicted Consequences of Global Warming b sea level rise b increased plant primary productivity b increased storm severity b changes to patterns of rainfall b changes to ocean circulation patterns

Global Warming

100 m sea level rise

Global Warming 100 m sea level rise

Coral Bleaching

El Nino Oceanic and atmospheric phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean Unusually warm conditions appear along the western coast of Ecuador and Peru Causes climatic disturbances of varying severity - heavy rains cause mudslides - warm water effects anchovy fisheries Occurs during December Seiche- water in a confined space sloshing back and forth

El NinoNon El Nino