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Global Circulation and Weather Systems Global Circulation and Weather Systems Atmospheric Pressure Why Air Moves Global Wind Patterns Cyclones and Anticyclones Winds Aloft Weather Systems Atmospheric Pressure Why Air Moves Global Wind Patterns Cyclones and Anticyclones Winds Aloft Weather Systems
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Atmospheric Pressure – Do you feel pressure? the force Atmospheric pressure is the force exerted on you by the weight of the exerted on you by the weight of the atmosphere. atmosphere. Gravity holds the gasses and Gravity holds the gasses and pulls them down to earth. pulls them down to earth. You feel the weight. You feel the weight. Atmospheric pressure decreases Atmospheric pressure decreases as altitude increases. as altitude increases. 99% of the atmosphere is found 99% of the atmosphere is found in the first 32 km. in the first 32 km. the force Atmospheric pressure is the force exerted on you by the weight of the exerted on you by the weight of the atmosphere. atmosphere. Gravity holds the gasses and Gravity holds the gasses and pulls them down to earth. pulls them down to earth. You feel the weight. You feel the weight. Atmospheric pressure decreases Atmospheric pressure decreases as altitude increases. as altitude increases. 99% of the atmosphere is found 99% of the atmosphere is found in the first 32 km. in the first 32 km. 15 lb/in 2 (psi) 15 lb/in 2 (psi) 1013.2 mb (metric unit) 1013.2 mb (metric unit)
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Measuring Atmospheric Pressure A barometer measures the rise and fall of atmospheric pressure. A barometer measures the rise and fall of atmospheric pressure. Aneroid Barometer Expansion or contraction of the vacuum chamber, caused by a change in pressure, forces the pointer to move. Aneroid Barometer Expansion or contraction of the vacuum chamber, caused by a change in pressure, forces the pointer to move. Mercurial Barometer Atmospheric pressure forces mercury upwards into the graduated glass tube. Mercurial Barometer Atmospheric pressure forces mercury upwards into the graduated glass tube.
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II I>C to breathe our atmosphere. I will get an A on my exams and quizzes. Discuss with a friend: 1.Define atmospheric pressure and two ways atmospheric pressure is measured. ways atmospheric pressure is measured. 2. How is atmospheric pressure held on the earth? earth? 3. Describe what happens to atmospheric pressure as one ascends through the pressure as one ascends through the atmosphere. atmosphere.
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I>clicker “check for understanding” 1.As a balloon ascends into the atmosphere the…… a. pressure inside the balloon is equal to the pressure outside the balloon. b. pressure outside the balloon is greater than the pressure inside the balloon. c. pressure inside the balloon is less than the pressure outside the balloon and the balloon pops. d. pressure inside the balloon becomes greater than the pressure outside the balloon, and the balloon pops. 1.As a balloon ascends into the atmosphere the…… a. pressure inside the balloon is equal to the pressure outside the balloon. b. pressure outside the balloon is greater than the pressure inside the balloon. c. pressure inside the balloon is less than the pressure outside the balloon and the balloon pops. d. pressure inside the balloon becomes greater than the pressure outside the balloon, and the balloon pops.
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Wind - Why does air move? Unbalanced air pressures are Unbalanced air pressures are caused by unequal heating in the caused by unequal heating in the atmosphere. atmosphere. High pressure moves to low pressure. High pressure moves to low pressure. Wind - Why does air move? Unbalanced air pressures are Unbalanced air pressures are caused by unequal heating in the caused by unequal heating in the atmosphere. atmosphere. High pressure moves to low pressure. High pressure moves to low pressure. High Pressure Low Pressure
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Isobars: lines that connect equal points of pressure Pressure Gradient a change of atmospheric pressure measured along a line at right angles to the isobars Pressure Gradient perpendicular to isobar lines Isobars
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April 18 th, 2012 Agenda: SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONE Starting at the Syllabus ALL QR’s graded – ready at 11:00 Complete Global Winds lecture TODAY Need 8 ½ X 11 sheet of paper SAF field Trip – slated for 4-28-12 Monday/Wednesday lab- Making a cloud I will provide I will provide
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Local Winds and Convection Loops Daytime – sea breeze Nighttime – land breeze convection loop I will draw diagrams on the white board explaining: specific heat properties of land and water how specific heat properties relate to high and low pressure systems the creation of convection loops during the day and night I will draw diagrams on the white board explaining: specific heat properties of land and water how specific heat properties relate to high and low pressure systems the creation of convection loops during the day and night
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II I>C to breathe our atmosphere. I will get an A on my exams and quizzes. Discuss with a friend: 4. What is wind? How is it formed? 5. Define isobars and how pressure is typically measured (atmospheric units). typically measured (atmospheric units). 6. Describe specific heat properties of land and water and how these properties and water and how these properties relate to offshore and onshore breezes. relate to offshore and onshore breezes.
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I> check for understanding 1.In terms of land and water, specific heat characteristics describe ….. a. land heats slower than water. b. land releases heat slower than water. c. land heats faster while water absorbs heat slower. d. land and water absorb heat at the same rate. 1.In terms of land and water, specific heat characteristics describe ….. a. land heats slower than water. b. land releases heat slower than water. c. land heats faster while water absorbs heat slower. d. land and water absorb heat at the same rate.
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Cyclones, Anticyclones, The Coriolis Effect You are a passenger riding in a car that is missing the passenger side door, and you forgot to put your seatbelt on. The driver is traveling 85 mi/hr and suddenly turns the car to the left to make it around a sharp curve. What do you think is going to happen? You are a passenger riding in a car that is missing the passenger side door, and you forgot to put your seatbelt on. The driver is traveling 85 mi/hr and suddenly turns the car to the left to make it around a sharp curve. What do you think is going to happen? The earth is rotating counter-clockwise approximately 1000 mi/hr (at the equator) without a “passenger-side door.” What is your prediction about the movement of atmospheric gasses and clouds as the earth rotates? The earth is rotating counter-clockwise approximately 1000 mi/hr (at the equator) without a “passenger-side door.” What is your prediction about the movement of atmospheric gasses and clouds as the earth rotates? Deflected
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The Coriolis Effect Animation The Coriolis Effect Global winds, ocean currents, airplanes are deflected due to the earth’s rotation. Deflection occurs whether the object is moving north, south, east, or west. The Coriolis Effect Global winds, ocean currents, airplanes are deflected due to the earth’s rotation. Deflection occurs whether the object is moving north, south, east, or west. counter-clockwise earth rotation clockwise earth rotation ITCZ
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Can you locate the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)? Where are the winds deflected to the right and left? Can you locate the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)? Where are the winds deflected to the right and left? Doldrums
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What high and low pressure zones? What causes high and low pressure zones? High Pressure Cold sinking air Cold sinking air High Pressure Cold sinking air Cold sinking air Low Pressure Warm rising air Warm rising air Low Pressure Warm rising air Warm rising air Wind Convection Currents
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High Pressure (anticyclone) Air spirals downward and outward (subsiding air mass). clockwise outspiral High Pressure (anticyclone) Air spirals downward and outward (subsiding air mass). clockwise outspiral Low Pressure (cyclone) Air spirals inwards and upwards. counter-clockwise inspiral Low Pressure (cyclone) Air spirals inwards and upwards. counter-clockwise inspiral High Pressure (anticyclone) counter-clockwise outspiral High Pressure (anticyclone) counter-clockwise outspiral Low Pressure (cyclone) clockwise interspiral Low Pressure (cyclone) clockwise interspiral
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Low Pressure (cyclones) air rises (inward and outward) adiabatic processes cause expansion of air air cools, condenses, typically forming clouds associated with cloudy, rainy weather Low Pressure (cyclones) air rises (inward and outward) adiabatic processes cause expansion of air air cools, condenses, typically forming clouds associated with cloudy, rainy weather High Pressure (anticyclone) air subsides (downward and outward) adiabatic processes cause compression of air air warms – no condensation associated with fair weather High Pressure (anticyclone) air subsides (downward and outward) adiabatic processes cause compression of air air warms – no condensation associated with fair weather “Bad Weather” “Good Weather”
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II I>C to breathe our atmosphere. I will get an A on my exams and quizzes. Discuss with a friend: 7. What is the Coriolis Effect? 8. How does the Coriolis Effect influence the movement of winds in the N.H. and S.H.? the movement of winds in the N.H. and S.H.? 9. Define and explain how cyclones and anticyclones form. anticyclones form.
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I> “checking for understanding” 1. What is the Coriolis Effect? a. a force created from the earth’s rotation causing wind currents to be deflected b. a force that creates turbulent wind flow along the ITCZ c. a force causing wind deflection to the left in the northern hemisphere d. a force that is caused by the clockwise rotation of of the earth. 1. What is the Coriolis Effect? a. a force created from the earth’s rotation causing wind currents to be deflected b. a force that creates turbulent wind flow along the ITCZ c. a force causing wind deflection to the left in the northern hemisphere d. a force that is caused by the clockwise rotation of of the earth.
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Where is the sun’s radiation most intense? Where is the sun’s radiation the least intense? Wind Convection Currents – Where is air sinking and rising within the earth’s atmosphere? Warm air rises (LP) On the equator Cold air sinks (HP) In the polar areas Global Wind Patterns Angle of insolation, seasonal changes, and the earth’s albedo cause a difference in the amount of solar radiation the earth receives.
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low pressure low pressure hot air rises hot air rises low pressure low pressure hot air rises hot air rises pressure high pressure cold air sinks cold air sinks pressure high pressure cold air sinks cold air sinks Earth Wind Pattern Wind Convection Currents This is known as a global ___________ wind current. convection
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Coriolis Effect breaks the convective flow of air into convective belts. A B C A - Hadley cell lies between equator and 30 o latitude deflected from the northeast to the southwest B- Farrel cell less well-defined set of convective cells between 30 o -60 0 air flows toward the north and is deflected to the right C- Polar cell cold frigid air flowing from the poles toward the equator (air rises at the 60 0 parallel) air that moves away from the pole is deflected to the right Intertropical convergence zone
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Draw the northern hemisphere convective cells deflected due to the Coriolis Effect. Draw the northern hemisphere convective cells deflected due to the Coriolis Effect. Hadley Cell Hadley Cell Farrel Cell Farrel Cell Polar Cell Polar Cell
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Geotrophic Winds (GW) – winds in the upper atmosphere winds originating high in the atmosphere that move parallel to a system of parallel isobars Geotrophic Winds (GW) – winds in the upper atmosphere winds originating high in the atmosphere that move parallel to a system of parallel isobars Pressure gradient forces wind to move from high pressure to low pressure. Coriolis Effect “pulls” or deflects wind to the right (N.H.). Pressure gradient and Coriolis Effect reach equilibrium (balance), and winds follow parallel isobars. GW forms streams of air that circumvent the earth. Pressure gradient forces wind to move from high pressure to low pressure. Coriolis Effect “pulls” or deflects wind to the right (N.H.). Pressure gradient and Coriolis Effect reach equilibrium (balance), and winds follow parallel isobars. GW forms streams of air that circumvent the earth.
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Rossby Waves – winds in the upper atmosphere undulated meanders of waves that circumvent the earth arise in zones of cold polar air converging with warm tropical air responsible for variable mid-latitude weather patterns where pools of moist and dry air masses invade mid-latitude Rossby Waves – winds in the upper atmosphere undulated meanders of waves that circumvent the earth arise in zones of cold polar air converging with warm tropical air responsible for variable mid-latitude weather patterns where pools of moist and dry air masses invade mid-latitude L L H H L L H H L L
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The Jet Stream – winds in the upper atmosphere narrow zones of high wind speeds occur in strong atmospheric pressure gradients polar-front jet (polar jet) generally located between 35 o and 65 o latitudes found at altitudes of 10-12 km (30,000-40,000 ft) typically follows the edges of Rossby waves marks the boundary between cold polar and warm subtropical air wind speeds range from 75-125 m/s (170-280 mi/hr) The Jet Stream – winds in the upper atmosphere narrow zones of high wind speeds occur in strong atmospheric pressure gradients polar-front jet (polar jet) generally located between 35 o and 65 o latitudes found at altitudes of 10-12 km (30,000-40,000 ft) typically follows the edges of Rossby waves marks the boundary between cold polar and warm subtropical air wind speeds range from 75-125 m/s (170-280 mi/hr) Jet Stream Jet Stream greater velocity greater velocity decreased velocity decreased velocity
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II to breathe our atmosphere. I will get an A on my exams and quizzes. Discuss with a friend: 10. Explain how convection cells form within the earth’s troposphere. the earth’s troposphere. 11. What are the three major convection cells found in the N.H.? found in the N.H.? 12. Identify at least 3 characteristics that define geotrophic, Rossby, and jet stream define geotrophic, Rossby, and jet stream upper atmosphere winds. upper atmosphere winds.
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