CIVIL AIR PATROL United States Air Force Auxiliary Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama Aerospace Dimensions Air Environment Module 3 Presentation on 9 Jan 2014 by Col Richard F. Himebrook, CAP Based on work by Patrick B. Smith, Washington Wg, CAP Disclaimer: This presentation is for the exclusive use of Civil Air Patrol and is not to be used for sale or profit.

Air Circulation We’re going to talk about: The Earth’s rotation and revolution, and its effect on the Earth’s seasons. How the Sun heats the Earth. Various theories of circulation. Coriolis Force. Jet stream and the control surfaces that create that motion.

Some Terms vernal (spring) equinox - when the sun’s direct rays strike the equator resulting in a day and night of equal length, usually on March summer solstice - when the sun is at its northernmost point from the equator in the Northern Hemisphere, the day is the longest, usually on June 21st or 22nd. autumnal (fall) equinox - when the sun’s direct rays strike the equator resulting in day and night of equal length, usually on September 22nd or 23rd. Winter solstice - when the sun is the farthest south of the equator and the Northern Hemisphere, the day is the shortest, usually on December 21st or 22nd.

ROTATION AND REVOLUTION The Earth revolves around the sun in about 365 1/4 days = one year. The Earth is rotating on its axis at an angle of 23.5 degrees. The Earth’s rotation effects the length of day = 24 hours. In the Northern Hemisphere, viewing from space above the Earth, rotates in a counterclockwise direction

SOLAR HEATING The sun heats the Earth unevenly – direct & indirect angle. Some parts are hotter than others Unequal heating causes temperature and pressure differences These differences create movement of air Cooler temperatures means air of higher pressure Air of higher pressures flow to air of lower pressure

CIRCULATION Refers to the global movement of air. Warm air rises from the Equator as it moves towards the poles. Cold air sinks at the poles as it moves towards the Equator

GLOBAL CIRCULATION Cold arctic air to equator. But earth rotates – Coriolis Force

Terms rotation - the Earth rotates on its axis at an angle of 23.5 degrees while it revolves around the sun. revolution - the movement of the Earth revolving around the sun, it takes about 365 1/4 days. radiation - the method by which the sun heats the Earth. coriolis force - deflects a freely moving object to the right in the Northern Hemisphere due to rotation of the Earth. jet stream - a strong wind that develops at 30, ,000 feet and moves as a winding road across the United States, generally from west to the east.

Weather Elements We’re going to talk about: Wind. Beaufort Scale. Heat. What temperature is and how it can be expressed. What wind chill is and what it does. How a microburst can affect a plane.

A Tool You Can Use!

The Beaufort Scale has been around since It is not a scale for wind speed but a measure of force. The original scale was intended for ships at sea but was “modified” for modern meteorological uses Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort, K.C.B.

Formula’s for Temperature Conversion Fahrenheit °F = 1.8°C + 32 Centigrade °C = (°F - 32) / 1.8 Heat: total energy of molecular motion within substance. Temperature: molecular motion expressed in man-made scale. Some neat numbers to know: 68 o F = 20 o C -40 o F = -40 o C

A Tool You Can Use!

Pressure of the Air Measurement Devices Aneroid BarometerRecording Barograph Mercury Barometer (uses height)

wind - a body of air in motion. Beaufort Scale - a scale for estimating wind speed, on land or sea heat - the total energy of all molecules within a substance. temperature - a measure of molecular motion expressed on a man-made scale. atmospheric pressure - the weight of all the atmosphere’s gases on the Earth’s surface Terms - Weather Elements

MICROBURSTS A microburst is a dangerous phenomenon for aircraft. The sudden updraft and downdraft will adversely affect the lift of the plane and could cause a pilot to over- correct for these changes.

Moisture and Clouds We’re going to talk about: The condensation process. How saturation occurs. Dew point. What precipitation is and give some examples. Fog.

condensation - the process of converting water vapor to liquid. saturation - a parcel of air is holding as much water vapor as it can. dew point - the temperature at which the air becomes saturated. relative humidity - amount of water vapor in the air compared to its water vapor capacity at a given temperature. precipitation - general term given to various types of condensed water vapor. fog - tiny droplets of liquid water in contact with the surface Important Terms

HAIL

FOG

Cloud Formation Clouds are a combination of tiny droplets of water or ice crystals clinging to condensation nuclei Condensation nuclei are tiny particles of salt, soot and dust. There are three basic types of clouds: Cumulus, Stratus, and Cirrus

Cumulus Clouds

Cumulus Clouds (under B-52)

Stratus Clouds

Stratus Clouds (B-2)

Cirrus Clouds

Weather Systems and Changes We’re going to talk about: Air mass and air mass characteristics. Front and the types of fronts. Stages of a thunderstorm. Hurricanes, thunderstorms, and tornadoes. Safety precautions for thunderstorms and tornadoes.

FRONTS (note lines of = air pressure)

About 600 miles

300 miles

OCCLUDED FRONTS (green areas are precipitation, purple line is Occluded Front)

Cumulonimbus

Lightning

Cumulus Mamatus

Funnel Cloud

HURRICANES

Engine of a P-3 weather recon.

air mass - huge body of air with the same temperature and moisture characteristics. front - a boundary between two air masses. thunderstorm - cumulonimbus cloud possessing thunder and lightning; usually strong winds, rain and sometimes hail. hurricane - a tropical cyclone of low pressure and very strong winds; usually heavy rain with possible thunderstorms and tornadoes. tornado - whirling funnel of air of very low pressure and very strong winds; can suck up anything in its path and must touch the ground to be called a tornado (otherwise a funnel cloud). Important Terms - Weather Systems and Changes

Safety Many Lightening victims are struck in open spaces: riding farm equipment, golfing, in small boat, in vicinity isolated of trees. Get in building. If stuck on level ground keep head as low as possible – but DO NOT lie down. If hair begins to stand on end, skin begins to tingle, or hear ticking sounds BEWARE! For TORNADOS – Get underground, if can’t small strong area (bathtub).

Are there any questions?