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Weather and Climate GEOG Lecture 6
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Chapter 3: Introduction to the Atmosphere
McKnight’s Physical Geography: A Landscape Appreciation, Tenth Edition, Hess Image courtesy of cimss.ssec.wisc.edu
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Introduction to the Atmosphere
Size of Earth’s Atmosphere Composition of the Atmosphere Vertical Structure of the Atmosphere Human-Induced Atmospheric Change Depletion of the Ozone Layer Weather and Climate
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Weather and Climate Weather—short-term atmospheric conditions for a specific area Meteorology Climate—aggregate long-term weather conditions Climatology Weather versus climate Distinction between continental and maritime climates Seattle, WA, and Fargo, ND, have vastly different climates Maritime climates typically much more humid
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Controls of Weather and Climate
Latitude Land and Water Distribution Ocean Currents Altitude Landform Barriers Human Activities Natural Events
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Controls of Weather and Climate
Latitude
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Poleward Transfer of Energy
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Variations in the Heat Energy Budget
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Land and Water Distribution
Maritime temperatures: Coastal regions have smaller daily and annual temperature ranges Continental temperatures: Inland regions have greater daily and annual temperature ranges
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Weather and Climate General circulation of the atmosphere
Semipermanent wind pattern on Earth General circulation of the oceans Oceanic broad-scale semi-permanent motions Figure 3-17
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Controls of Weather and Climate
Ocean Currents Warm & cold currents
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Controls of Weather and Climate
Altitude Environmental lapse rate Pressure drop
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Vertical Distribution of Temperature
Normal (Environmental) Lapse Rate 6.5° C / 1000 m 3.6° F / 1000’
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Reduced air pressurereduced oxygen to lungs
Surface and Air Temperature High-Mountain Environments Reduced air pressurereduced oxygen to lungs Fewer air moleculessun’s rays stronger Less CO2 and water vaporreduced greenhouse effect
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Surface and Air Temperature
Temperature Inversion: reversal of normal temperature pattern so that air temperature increases with altitude
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Temperature Inversions
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Inversions and Smog Temperature inversion: reverse of the normal pattern of vertical distribution of air temperature; in the case of inversion, temperature increases rather than decreases with increasing altitude
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Weather and Climate Topographic barriers
Can drastically alter climate due to orographic change in wind patterns Figure 3-20
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Controls of Weather and Climate
Landform Barriers Blocks air movement Orographic Effect
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Weather and Climate Storms
Control weather and climate through atmospheric modification Some storms prominent enough to affect climate Figure 3-21
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Weather and Climate Coriolis Effect (Coriolis Force)
Rotation of Earth modifies path of forward motion over great distances Discovered by Gaspard Coriolis Causes a rightward turn to motion in the Northern Hemisphere Causes a leftward turn in the Southern Hemisphere Deflection greatest at the poles; zero at the equator Proportional to the speed of the object Has no influence on speed
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Weather and Climate Figure 3-22
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Controls of Weather and Climate
Human Activities Urban Heat Island Fossil fuels Deforestation Drainage Water impoundments Weather modification
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Surface and Air Temperature
The Urban Heat Island City centers tend to be several degrees warmer than surrounding suburbs and countryside. Urban Heat Island: area at the center of a city that has a higher temperature than surrounding regions
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Controls of Weather and Climate
Natural Events Volcano eruptions Dust storms Forest fire Asteroid strike
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LAMPPOST Latitude and Seasonality Altitude
Maritime Influence & Continentality Pressure Systems Prevailing Winds Ocean Currents Storms Topography Fahrer, Chuck, and Dan Harris LAMPPOST: A Mnemonic Device for Teaching Climate Variables. Journal of Geography 103(2):86-90.
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Three main factors explaining world isotherm patterns:
World Patterns of Air Temperature Factors Controlling Air Temperature Patterns Three main factors explaining world isotherm patterns: 1. Latitude affects annual insolation, temperatures, and seasonal temperature variation 2. Maritime-continental contrast 3. Elevation
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World Patterns of Air Temperature
Air temperature maps use isotherms to show centers of high and low temperatures, and temperature gradients Isotherm: line on a map drawn through all points with the same temperature Temperature gradient: rate of temperature change along a selected line or direction
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Temperatures decrease from equator to poles
World Patterns of Air Temperature World Air Temperature Patterns for January and July Patterns to note: Large land masses in Arctic and subarctic zones are extremely cold in winter—colder than adjacent oceans Ice and snow reflect insolation Temperatures decrease from equator to poles Areas of permanent ice and snow are always intensely cold High elevation Snow and ice reflect insolation
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Highlands are colder than surrounding lowlands
World Patterns of Air Temperature World Air Temperature Patterns for January and July Patterns to note: Highlands are colder than surrounding lowlands Temperatures in equatorial regions change little from season to season Isotherms make large shifts poleward over continents in summer, while isotherms over oceans shift less Continents heat/cool faster than oceans
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January Temperature Distribution
Isotherm: line drawn on a map to connect all points with the same temperature
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July Temperature Distribution
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Earth Temperature Maximums
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Earth Temperature Minimums
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Which of the following is NOT a control on weather and climate?
Latitude Longitude Land and Water Distribution Ocean Currents Altitude Landform Barriers Human Activities Natural Events
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1) The main surface currents in the major ocean basins assist in the heat transfer around the world by moving warm water from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere. cool water from the poles to the tropics. warm water from the poles to the tropics. cool water from the tropics to the poles. warm water from the Southern Hemisphere to the Northern Hemisphere. Figure 3-18
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warm water from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere.
The main surface currents in the major ocean basins assist in the heat transfer around the world by moving warm water from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere. cool water from the poles to the tropics. warm water from the poles to the tropics. cool water from the tropics to the poles. warm water from the Southern Hemisphere to the Northern Hemisphere.
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1) The main surface currents in the major ocean basins assist in the heat transfer around the world by moving warm water from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere. cool water from the poles to the tropics. warm water from the poles to the tropics. cool water from the tropics to the poles. warm water from the Southern Hemisphere to the Northern Hemisphere. Level of Difficulty: 2 Text Reference: Weather and Climate Geography Standard: 7 Blooms Taxonomy: Skills Figure 3-18 Explanation: Northerly ocean currents from the poles to the tropics transport cooler water from higher latitudes to lower latitudes.
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2) An example of climate (versus weather) for a given area is
the air temperature reached 78°F today. rain showers are predicted for next Saturday. the record high temperature is 122°F. the average rainfall in April is 15 inches. thunderstorms occurred last Mother’s day.
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An example of climate (versus weather) for a given area is
the air temperature reached 78°F today. rain showers are predicted for next Saturday. the record high temperature is 122°F. the average rainfall in April is 15 inches. thunderstorms occurred last Mother’s day.
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2) An example of climate (versus weather) for a given area is
the air temperature reached 78°F today. rain showers are predicted for next Saturday. the record high temperature is 122°F. the average rainfall in April is 15 inches. thunderstorms occurred last Mother’s day. Level of Difficulty: 2 Text Reference: Weather and Climate Geography Standard: 4 Blooms Taxonomy: Skills Explanation: Climate describes weather conditions over a long period. So, an average weather condition over a span of many months would be a climate condition
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10) Los Angeles, California and Dallas, Texas have vastly different climates, despite existing at the same latitude. What causes the climate difference? Proximity to a desert Sun is more directly overhead in Dallas Los Angeles is near mountains Dallas is in the Plains Dallas is continental; Los Angeles is maritime.
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What percentage of your current points would you like to wager on the next question?
100%
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Sun is more directly overhead in Dallas Los Angeles is near mountains
Los Angeles, California and Dallas, Texas have vastly different climates, despite existing at the same latitude. What causes the climate difference? Proximity to a desert Sun is more directly overhead in Dallas Los Angeles is near mountains Dallas is in the Plains Dallas is continental; Los Angeles is maritime.
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10) Los Angeles, California and Dallas, Texas have vastly different climates, despite existing at the same latitude. What causes the climate difference? Proximity to a desert Sun is more directly overhead in Dallas Los Angeles is near mountains Dallas is in the Plains Dallas is continental; Los Angeles is maritime. Level of Difficulty: 2 Text Reference: Weather and Climate Geography Standard: 4 Blooms Taxonomy: Skills Explanation: LA’s proximity to water allows for a less variable climate in terms of temperature. In general, maritime regions have a less volatile climate than continental regions.
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Fastest Responders (in seconds)
0.47 Lubin Ryan 4.02 Smith Nikki 5.86 Mashburn Lizzy 6.52 McMahon Mia 7.72 Inman Payne
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Participant Scores 7 Manny Jeremy Lubin Ryan Cummings Wes McMahon Mia
Mashburn Lizzy
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Team Scores
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Team MVP Points Team Participant
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