Mid term study guide
Describe and explain the natural greenhouse effect in the atmosphere noting the two most important natural greenhouse gases.
Carbon dioxide and water vapor trap heat in the atmoshpere. This will cause warming in the lower troposhere.
What is meant by the term insolation?
Insolation referred to as incoming solar radiation.
Latitude of Antarctic Circle
66.5 degrees South
Describe the basic pattern of ocean currents around the margins of a major ocean basin including the realtive temperature of each current either cool or warm
The western margin of each ocean basins, the general current curves poleward margins of the ocean basins, they curve back to the east here propelled by the west to east blowing westerly winds. The warm currents are flowing along the eastern coasts while cool currents are flowing along the western coasts. Each major current is classified as either warm or cool relative the surrounding water at that latitude.
Describe and explain the pattern of winds flow in the northern hemisphere around: a surface low
The wind pattern develops in the friction layer at lower altitudes around a low pressure center. The air converges towards the center of the cyclones in a convergent anticlockwise manner.
Describe and explain the pattern of winds flow in the northern hemisphere around: an upper atmosphere high
The wind pattern develops in the upper atmosphere around a high pressure center where winds move in clockwise direction in a geostropic manner parallel in the isobars
Describe and explain the pattern of winds flow in the northern hemisphere around: an upper atmosphere low
The wind pattern develops in the upper atmosphere around a low pressure center where the wind moves in a clockwise direction in a geostrophic manner (parallels to thr isobars).
Describe and explain the pattern of winds flow in the northern hemisphere around: a surface high
The winds pattern develops in the friction layer at the lower altitudes around a high pressure center. The air spirals out away from the center of the anticyclone in a divergent clockwise manner
Describe the general location and characteristics of the following general circulation components: intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)
The zone around the world near equator where the warm air from northern and Southern Hemisphere meet. The rising warm air produces a region of relative low pressure to a higher of about 15 kilometers, mostly in thunderstorms updrafts.
Describe the generalal size and temperature characteristics of the troposphere and the stratosphere
Troposphere lowest layer of the atmosphere, and the one in contact with earths surface. On average the top is 11 miles above sea level and 5 miles about the poles Stratosphere next to lowest at 11_30 miles above sea level.
What are Hadley cells? and generally what cause them?
Two cells vertical circulation are formed in tropical latitudes one north and one south of the equator. These two outstanding tropical circulation. The warm air in equatorial latitude rises creating a low pressure at the surface. When warm air reaches the upper atmosphere it gets cooled and spreads north and south.
How and why are surface (friction layer) winds different from upper atmosphere geostrophic winds?
Upper atmosphere geostropic wind which blow parallel to the isobars because of Coriolies force and pressure gradient force are in balance. Upper geostropic wind is faster than surface wind because geostropic wind has less friction than surface wind and the friction slows the surface wind which reduce the Coriolies effect. Surface wind (frictional wind ) affected by friction . Geostropic wind blows parallel to the isobars because the Coriolies force and pressure gradients force are in balance. As we move higher atmosphere surface features affect the wind becomes less untill the wind is actually geostropic.
Using the isotherm maps of average January and July sea level temperatures (Figures 4-31 and 4-32 in the textbook) describe the general influence of latitude, season, land-water contrasts and ocean currents on global temperature patterns.
Warm goes cold following the vertical rays land cold land cold current colder warm current hot o Summer temperatures are higher over the continents than over the oceans, as shown by the poleward curative of the isotherms over continents in the respective hemispheres (July in the Northern Hemisphere, January in the Southern Hemisphere) o Winter temperatures are lower over the continents than over the oceans; the isotherms bend equatorward over continents in the Southern Hemisphere). Both seasons isotherms make greater north- south shifts over land than over water. o The latitudinal shift of the isotherms from one map to the other. The isotherms follow the changing balance of insolation during the course of the year, moving northward from January to July returning southward from July to January.
Expansion: Adiabatic Cooling
When the pressure on the adiabatically isolated system is decreased, allowing it to expand, thus causing it to do work on its surroundings.
Describe the general wind speed associated with a gentle (gradual) pressure gradient and a steep (abrupt) pressure gradient.
Wind speed is determined by the pressure gradient which is indicated by the spacing of isobars, which determines the steepness. If the gradient is steep the air accelerates quickly if the gradient is gentle, the acceleration is slow.
Which day of the year is the noon sun lowest in San Francisco?
Winter Solstice is when the noon sun is lowest in San Francisco.
Describe the pattern of vertical (up and down) air movement within a cyclone and within a anticyclone
Within a cyclone and anticyclone due to the coriolis force effect, vertical air movement takes place anticlockwise in the cyclone in northern hemisphere and clockwise in northern hemisphere for anticyclones.
Is the noon sun ever directly overhead at the north pole? If not which day is the enoon sun highest in the sky there?
Yes the noon sun is directly overhead at the north pole. (the summer solstice June 21. The Sun will be overhead at noon as seen from latitude 23.5 degree north c tropic.
What is an anticyclone?
a large atmospheric circulation system around a high with winds flowing clockwise in northern hemisphere. Forms from air masses cooling more then their surroundings
Meridian
a line of longitude
conic projection
a map created by projecting an image of Earth onto a cone placed over part of an Earth model
planar projection
a map created by projecting an image of the Earth onto a geometric plane
cylindrical projection
a map projection that is made by moving the surface features of the globe onto a cylinder
elliptical projection
a projection that is oval shaped
map projection
a way of representing the spherical Earth on a flat surface
Equator
an imaginary line drawn around the earth equally distant from both poles, dividing the earth into northern and southern hemispheres and constituting the parallel of latitude 0°.
equivalent map projection
equal-area; size is correct but the shapes are incorrect
What are the four elements of weather and climate?
temperature, pressure, wind, moisture content
Longitude
the distance in degrees east or west of the prime meridian ranges from 0 degrees to 180 degrees
Troposphere
the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere, where weather occurs
Advection
the transfer of heat or matter by the flow of a fluid, especially horizontally in the atmosphere or the sea.
greenhouse effect
the trapping of the sun's warmth in a planet's lower atmosphere due to the greater transparency of the atmosphere to visible radiation from the sun than to infrared radiation emitted from the planet's surface.
Why does temperature generally decrease with increasing altitude in the troposphere?
the troposphere's gases absorb very little of the incoming solar radiation. Instead, the ground absorbs this radiation and then heats the tropospheric air by conduction and convection.
Greenhouse gasses include
water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone
Compression: Adiabatic Warming
when the pressure of gas is increased from workdone on its surroundings.
For the North Pole, describe the approximate number of daylight hours on the following days of the year: JUNE SOLSTICE
June solstice contains 24 hours of daylight
What are the seven dominant controls of weather and climate?
Latitude, distribution of land and water, General circulation of the atmosphere, General Circulation of the oceans, altitude, topographic barriers, and storms.
For the multitudes of the northern hemisphere (such as here in Francisco) describe the approximate number of daylight hours (for example 12 hours of daylight more then 12 hours or less then 12 hours on the following days of the year; DECEMBER SOLSTICE
Less than 12 hours of daylight (around 9 to 10 hours of daylight
Isoline Map
Map displaying lines that connect points of equal value; for example, a map showing elevation levels
For the North Pole, describe the approximate number of daylight hours on the following days of the year: March equinox
March equinox contains 12 hours of daylight
What is the relative temperature of the ocean current flowing along the west coast of a continent in the midlatitudes? Along the east coast of a continent?
Middle latitude hours of daylight play a large role in o Warmth in summer o Cold days in winter Low- latitude currents (Equatorial Current and Equatorial Countercurrent) have relatively warm water Poleward- moving currents on the Western sides of ocean basins (off the east coast of continents) carry relatively warm water toward higher latitudes, such as the Gulf Stream off the east coast of North America The high- latitude currents in the Northern Hemisphere gyres carry relatively warm water toward higher latitudes, such as Gulf Stream off the east coast of North America. o High latitude currents in Northern Hemisphere gyres carry warm water to east. High-latitude currents in the Southern Hemisphere gyres(generally combined into the West Wind Drift) carry relatively cool water to the east o Equatorward- moving currents on the eastern sides of ocean basins (off the west coasts of continents) carry relatively cool water toward the equator.
For the multitudes of the northern hemisphere (such as here in Francisco) describe the approximate number of daylight hours (for example 12 hours of daylight more than 12 hours or less than 12 hours on the following days of the year; JUNE SOLSTICE
More than 12 hours of daylight hours (around 14-15 hours of daylight
Is the noon sun directly overhead at the equator every day of the year? In other words, do the vertical rays of the noon sun strike the equator every day if the year?
No
What is ozone and why is it important in the atmosphere?
Ozone is a form of oxygen that contains three oxygen atoms instead of the usual two It is a layer of ozone high in the atmosphere, and surrounds the earth. This layer acts as a filter to prevent too much of the harmful ultraviolet light in sunlight from reaching the earth.
Briefly describe the following warming and cooling process with electromagnetic energy radiation (emission)
Process in which electomagentic radiation emitted from a body, the flow of energy in the form of electomagnetic waves.
ozone layer
Protective layer in atmosphere that shields earth from UV radiation.
What are the Four factor of earth sun relation associated with the change of seasons?
Rotation, revolution around the sun, inclination of Earth Axis, polarity (parallelism)
For the North Pole, describe the approximate number of daylight hours on the following days of the year: SEPTEMBER EQUINOX
September solstice contains 12 hours of daylight
Conformal Map
Shape is correct but other properties are distorted
Describe and contrast shortwave radiation and longwave radiation
Shortwave radiation is generally composed of visible light, UV and short infrared radiation i.e.mostly solar radiation in electromagnetic spectrum. The sun radiates energy mainly in the form of visible, UV and short infrared so it usually considered as shortwave radiation Longwave radiation is generally composed of thermal infrared portion of electromagnetic spectrum. Almost all of natural radiation created by Earth are thermal infrared. Thus, we refer to the terrestrial radiation as longwave radiation.
Beginning with the March equinox, describe the changing latitude of the vertical rays of the sun during the year.
Starting from the March or spring equinox in the northern hemisphere when the vertical rays of the sun strike at equator
verbal map scale
States in words the relationship between the distance on the map and the actual distance on Earth's surface
Which day it days of the year is the sun directly overhead at the equator?
The Sun is directly overhead at "high-noon" on the equator twice per year, at the two equinoxes. Spring (or Vernal) Equinox is usually March 20, and Fall (or Autumnal) equinox is usually September 22.
Transmission
The ability of medium to allow electromagnetic waves to pass through it.
Why is the sky blue?
The air molecules scatter blue light better than red light, so more blue light reaches our eyes. Rayleigh scattering deflects high-frequency, short-wavelength light in all directions. Our eyes are not as sensitive to violet light, therefore blue light predominates our vision. The molecules of air have resonances that deflect short-wavelength light in all directions.
Describe the average lapse rate (average vertical temperature gradient) in the troposphere.
The average lapse rate of temperature in the troposphere is about 6.5 degrees C per 1000 meters (3.6 degrees F 1000 feet).
Describe the general location and characteristics of the following general circulation components: trade winds
The cool air that descends and moves from towards equator from subtropical highs at latitudes of about 25 degree N and S. These winds are very prominent over the oceans but become interrupted and modified over landmasses because of their irregular topography. They are easterly covering a vast air of earth. They generally blow from the northeast in northern hemisphere and southeast in souther hemisphere. These winds are very reliable as they blow most of the time throughout thr year in the same direction at the same speed.
Describe the Coriolis effect and it cause
The curving of an object's straight path due to Earth's rotation. At north objects deflect to the right and at south objects deflect to the left. The cause of the Coriolis effect is effect is the Earth's rotation. As the Earth spins in a counter-clockwise direction on its axis, anything flying or flowing over a long distance above its surface is deflected. ... As latitude increases and the speed of the Earth's rotation decreases, the Coriolis effect increases.
Pressure gradien
The difference in pressure influence the wind direction. Winds always move from areas of high pressure to low pressure.
Explain the reasons for unequal warming by latitude of earth by the sun
The earth is not hitted equally by the sun. It varies by it's latitude. Because the different locations of earth surface receives different amount of solar energy. The rays of sun strikes directly in the equator. So,this zone is hitted most. The latitude which is farther from the equator in both north and south ,the sun ray strikes in a lower angle. Then the sun ray spreads within a large area. This location get less hit than equator zone. So,more we go to south or north from the equator the temperature become less.
How are humans enhancing (increasing) the natural greenhouse effect?
The enhancement of the natural greenhouse effect is the direct result of human activities. Processes such as burning of fossil fuels,industrial operations, forest clearing will release carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide to the atmosphere. Thus they trap more heat near Earth surface results in increasing of temperature.
Describe changing latitude of the vertical rays of the sun during the year; SUMMER SOLSTICE
June (20/21) the vertical rays of the sun strike 23.5 north latitude for the people living in the northern hemisphere.
Friction
Lowers the wind speed and also helps the winds to be directed towards the interior of the low pressure zones.
polarity/parallelism
No matter where Earth is in its orbit around the sun the axis always points in the same direction relative to the stars- toward the North Star, Polaris. Earth's rotation axis is parallel to its orientation at all times.
Is the noon sun ever directly overhead in San Francisco?
No the sun is never directly overhead in San Francisco because the earth rotates 23.5 degree with respect to its orbital motion around the sun it should be less than 23.5 degrees above of below the equator to have the sun pass directly overhead.
Explain why land warms and cools more faster and to a greater extent than water?
The land surface of earth is solid. So,when it hit the top layers only can absorb the heat quickly. And then when the surface atmosphere become cool it reflects the temperaturre back to the atmosphere. But the water is liquid. So, the lower layers of water also can easily hitted by convection process. And It also take more time to cool than the land also.
What is the longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere?
The longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere is DECEMBER 21. The vertical rays of the sun reach their farthest point on December 21 (December solstice at 23.5 south latitude.
What is the longest day of the year (the day greatest number of daylight hours) in the midlatitudes of the northern hemisphere?
The longest day of year in the northern hemispheres is JUNE 21 during this day the rays from the sun fall vertically on the northernmost location with a greater angle. So the day time will be more of this day.
What is meant by a map scale 1:100,000
The map scale of 1:100,000 tells you that 1 map inch = 100,000 earth inches.
Describe changing latitude of the vertical rays of the sun during the year; AUTUMNAL EQUINOX
On the autumnal equinox in the northern hemisphere the vertical rays sun strike the equator.
Three factors that influence wind direction
Pressure gradient, Coriolis effect, friction
Prime Meridian
The meridian, designated at 0° longitude, which passes through the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, England.
obsorption
The ability of an object to assimilate energy from electromagnetic waves that strike it.
Reflection
The ability of an object to repel waves without altering either the object or the wave.
What happen to temperature of air when it rises?
The air parcel will expand as it rises and this expansion causes decrease in temperature.
What factors generally cause low atmospheric pressure cells and high atmospheric pressure cells near the surface?
The atmospheric cells are created because of the variations in the heating of the earth surface ad well as the tilting of it's axis. Both of these cause a different temperature. Air masses gave high temperatures create a low pressure, while the sir masses having lower temperature create a high pressure. Winds move from higher pressure to lower pressure.
Scattering
The deflection of light waves in random directions by gas molecules and particles in the atmosphere. shorter wavelength of visible light will scatter more easily than longer.
Conduction
The movement of energy from one molecule to another without changing the relative position of molecules.
Which day of year is the noon sun highest in San Francisco?
The noon sin is highest in San Francisco on the summer solstice.
inclination of Earth Axis
The tilt of Earth's axis at about 23.5 degrees away from the perpendicular of the ecliptic plane. Earth maintains this tilt throughout the year.
Latitude
The numbering system used to indicate the location of parallels drawn on a globe and measuring distance north and south of the equator. Ranges from 0 degrees to 90 degrees
Coriolis effect
The reason which winds are deflected to right in the northern hemisphere and to their left in Southern Hemisphere
map scale
The relationship between the size of an object on a map and the size of the actual feature on Earth's surface.
Describe the general location and characteristics of the following general circulation components: westerlies
The subsiding air in an STH region which diverges at the surface and blow generally from west to East. The windssystem is found in the latitudinal zones between 30 degree and 60 degree north and south of equator. They cover lessers area of the earth than the trade winds as the globe is smaller at these latitudes then in the tropic.
For the equator describe the approximate number of daylight hours on the following days of the year; DECEMBER SOLSTICE
The sun is 23.5 degrees from zenith at noon. Thus suns zenith is at farthest point from the equator. And day light time is always 12 hours.
For the equator describe the approximate number of daylight hours on the following days of the year; SEPTEMBER EQUINOX
The sun is directly overhead the equator at noon or both equinoxes
What is an air mass, and what conditions are necessary for one to form?
The troposphere is composed of many large parcels of air that are distinct from one another. It must stay over a land or sea surface long enough to acquire the temp/humidity/stability characteristics of the surface below. They are associated with source regions they must be extensive physically uniform, and have stationary air.
What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather is what conditions of the atmosphere are over a short period of time, and climate is how the atmosphere "behaves" over relatively long periods of time.
Briefly describe and explain how the troposphere is warmed indirectly by the sun
When the Sunlight enters into the earth atmosphere, parts of which is reflected back into the space and the rest is enters the atmosphere which absorbed by the Earth's surface. Some proportion of the heat is released from the Earth's surface which is back to the atmosphere and which is absorbed by the water vapor and dust particles present in the troposphere and then the troposphere is become warmed
latitude of equator
0 degrees
For the multitudes of the northern hemisphere (such as here in Francisco) describe the approximate number of daylight hours (for example 12 hours of daylight more then 12 hours or less then 12 hours on the following days of the year: MARCH EQUINOX
12 hour of daylight
For the multitudes of the northern hemisphere (such as here in Francisco) describe the approximate number of daylight hours (for example 12 hours of daylight more then 12 hours or less then 12 hours on the following days of the year; SEPTEMBER EQUINOX
12 hours of daylight
Latitude of Tropic of Cancer
23.5 degrees North
Latitude of Tropic of Capricorn
23.5 degrees south
Stratosphere
2nd layer of atmosphere; extends from 10 to 30 miles up; location of ozone layer; absorbs 95% of Ultraviolet radiation; temperature increases with altitude increase.
At the North pole for how many month Of the year is their no sunlight at all?
6 months of the year the North Pole have no sunlight at all.
Latitude of Arctic Circle
66.5 degrees North
Latitude of North Pole
90 degrees north
Latitude of South Pole
90 degrees south
Describe the general location and characteristics of the following general circulation components: subtropical highs
A large semipermanent high pressure zone at latitudes of about 30 degree N and S. I. In this high pressure measure zone thr air has a gentle down draft from higher altitudes. Their latitudes position varies according to the seasons shiftinga few degrees towards Pole in summer and a few degree to the equator in winter.
parallel
A line of latitude
What is an isotherm?
A line that connects points of equal temperature;
graphic map scale
A segmented line or bar with real world distances identified (EX: Line representing how far on map is in miles/km)
What is a cyclone?
A swirling center of low pressure
What are the two dominant mechanisms of energy transfer around the world? How would global temperature pattern be different at the poles and at the equator without this heat transfer?
Air currents and water currents circulation of the atmosphere and movements of the oceans
What is a trough
An area of low pressure
What is an isobar? When referring to air pressure
An imaging line joining the pints of equal pressure on the same time
What is a ridge
Area of higher pressure
What happens to the temperature of the air as it descends?
As air descends, it warms, inhibiting cloud formation which is often associated with good weather. Air rises in areas where the pressure at the surface is low. As it rises, the air cools, and the humidity condenses to form clouds and precipitation.
For the equator describe the approximate number of daylight hours on the following days of the year; MARCH EQUINOX
At equator the sun is directly overhead the equator at the noon on the equinox. This we have equal duration for day and night.
For the equator describe the approximate number of daylight hours on the following days of the year; JUNE SOLSTICE
At the equator the day is always 12 hours long. The sun rise daily at 6 a.m. local time and set at 6 p.m. local time
What generally happens to atmospheric pressure with increasing altitude?
Atmospheric pressure decreases because the further away you go from earth and it's gravitational pull the fewer has molecules are present in the atmosphere.
Where in the world do we generally find the greatest average annual temperature ranges and where do we find the smallest average annual temperature ranges? Why?
Average annual temperatures are highest in the equatorial regions these regions experience little winter cooling. Annual averages temperatures are lower the ice portions of Earth, Antarctica and Greenland remains quite cold throughout the year.
Why is the sky blue? Why are sunset orange and red?
Because of respective color was scattered for its corresponding time of a day.
Rotation
Causes all parts of Earth's surface except the poles to move in a circle around Earth's axis. Rotation is constant at any given place on Earth. Causes Coriolis effect (deflection in flow paths of wind and ocean currents), Tides (rise and fall of water levels), Diurnal (alt. of light and darkness).
Describe the most important constant components and variable components of the atmosphere
Constant components: proportion remains the same over time and space eg nitrogen 78.08% oxygen 20.95% argon 0.93%. Contact components have little effect on weather and other atmospheric process. Variable components: proportion vary over time and space eg. Carbon dioxide 0.038% water vapour 0-4% and methane sulfur dioxide, ozone, nitrogen oxide Variable components are responsible for climate change weather change and other atmospheric process eg humidity change, heat absorption change etc.
fractional map scale
Conveys the relationship between distance measured on a map and the actual distance that represents on Earth with a fraction or ratio called a representative fraction.
For the North Pole, describe the approximate number of daylight hours on the following days of the year: DECEMBER SOLSTICE
December solstice contains 0 hours of daylight
revolution around the sun
Earth's revolution around the Sun. Each revolution takes 365 days (365.242), known as the Tropical Year. The path of Earth around the Sun is an ellipse, referred to as an elliptical orbit.
Convection
Energy through the vertical circulation movement of fluids.
Describe the characteristics weather associated with the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and the characteristics weather associate with subtropical
Have an enormous impact on weather all around the globe. the northern and southern trade winds come together and lack of horizontal wind movement in the region. The heating of the Earth's ocean currents by the sun the winds thus move vertically toward the upper atmosphere Creates Low pressure at surface of ITCZ. Rainfall: Moisture into the atmoshere increses and condenses into cloudes. therefore ITCZ region recives high amounts of precipitation and high humidity. Thermal and solar heating cause moisture to condense quickly into clouds Circular typhoons thus often form as the air currents move. Some of the strongest winds on the Earth have been recorded in these storms. During the sesonal variation due to tilt rotation of earth ITCZ also move slowly towards warmer region. Weather at the subtropical highs : The warm air at the low latitudes rises and moves toward the poles. The rising air, and the subsequent clouds and precipitation, cause the tropics to be very wet. The descending air under subtropical highs warms and dries as it descends, resulting in generally sunny skies and dry weather.