1. Unit 7: Temperatures of the Lower Atmosphere
Average January surface temperatures.
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2. OBJECTIVES
Discuss the measurement and characteristics of temperature and heat
Explain the adiabatic process whereby vertically moving air warms and cools
Discuss the global distribution of temperatures and their variation in time and space

3. Temperature, Temperature Scales
What is temperature?
Thermometers
Scales: Celsius, Fahrenheit, Kelvin
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4. The Vertical Distribution of Temperature
Environmental Lapse Rate
Adiabatic Lapse Rates
-Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate (DALR)
- Saturated Adiabatic Lapse Rate (SALR)
Stability
-stable
-inversions (ground, subsidence)
-unstable
-conditionally stable
Stability and Air Pollution
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5. James Glaisher and his assistant, Coxwell, during a balloon flight on September 5, 1862.

6. Concept of Stability
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7. Environmental lapse rate conditions
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8. In an unstable atmosphere numerous thunderstorms billow up as viewed over southern Florida looking south.

9. Downtown Los Angeles is a leading city of air pollution due to poor vertical and horizontal mixing. Throughout the summer, there is a restrictive temperature inversion over the region. Adopting the strictest air pollution controls in the world, the air quality has improved remarkably.
Fig rd ed.

10. Horizontal Distribution of Temperature
Temporal cycles
-Daily cycle
-Annual cycle
Heating of land vs. water
-maritime effect
-continental effect, continentality
Global temperature variations
-seasonal variations
-isotherms and temperature gradients

11. Daily Radiation Patterns
Figure 3.12

12. Land–Water Heating Differences
Figure 3.20

13. The annual range in sea surface temperature (A) and the lag between maximum solar heating and the date of maximum temperature (B).

14. Fig 8.9-annual temperature regimes for inland vs coast

15. Effects of Latitude
Figure 3.17

16. Annual Temperature Regime in Siberia
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17. Mean sea-level air temperatures, in Fahrenheit for January
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18. Mean sea-level air temperatures, in Fahrenheit for July
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19. Global Temperature Ranges
Figure 3.28

20. Urban Heat Island
Figure 3.30

22. Air Temperature and the Human Body
Wind chill
Correlates cold and wind speed
Heat index
Correlates heat and humidity

23. Wind Chill Table
Figure 1

24. Heat Index Table
Figure 2