1. Earth’s Oceans and Air presented by Prof. Geller 3 November 2005
HNRS 227 Chapters 16,17
Earth’s Oceans and Air
presented by Prof. Geller
3 November 2005

2. Key Points of Chapter 16 Atmosphere Hydrosphere Weather producers
winds
Hydrosphere
evaporation, condensation, humidity
Weather producers
air masses, weather fronts, waves, cyclones
Weather forecasting
Climate

3. Key Points of Chapter 17 Water on Earth Oceans
freshwater, surface water, groundwater, seawater
Oceans
waves
currents

4. Atmosphere Composition Atmospheric Pressure Warming
Nitrogen (78%), Oxygen (21%), Argon, Water Vapor, CO2, Methane, other
Atmospheric Pressure
pressure exerted by atmosphere
Warming
solar constant
greenhouse effect
warming due to the transparency of a substance to radiation at visible wavelengths and opacity to infrared radiation

5. Structure of the Atmosphere

6. Winds
Local winds
wind chill factor
Global wind patterns

7. Hydrosphere Evaporation Humidity Condensation Process Clouds, fog
Precipitation

8. Size of condensation nuclei and droplet
Figure 16.17

9. Absolute humidity
Figure 16.15

10. Weather Producers Air Masses Fronts Waves and cyclones Storms
thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes

11. An idealized cold front
Figure 16.25

12. An idealized warm front
Figure 16.26

13. A thunderstorm cell
Figure 16.29

14. Weather Forecasting Predictions based upon Complex computer models
“characteristics, location, and rate of movement of air masses and associated fronts and pressure systems”
Complex computer models
Led to science of “chaos”
chaotic dynamic systems

15. Climate
“general pattern of the weather that occurs for a region over a number of years”
Major climate regions
tropical
temperate
polar

16. The principal climate zones
Figure 16.38

17. General rainfall patterns
Figure 16.42

18. influence temperatures
Ocean currents
influence temperatures
Figure 16.43

19. Distribution of the Water

20. The hydrologic cycle

21. Watersheds of three rivers

22. The path of groundwater

23. Oceanography Waves and tides Climate control changes coastal structure
transport of material
long term and short term changes
Climate control
ocean conveyor belt
major control of climate

24. A wave passing in the open ocean

25. A wave becoming a breaker

26. Ocean Conveyor Belt -
Major Climate Control